What are the time limits for filing a will for probate?

In Washington, generally, the time limit for filing a will for probate is within four years after the death of the deceased person. This time limit is applicable to all wills of persons who have died in the state of Washington, regardless of when the will was made. The four-year time limit is provided by law, so if the executor or personal representative takes longer than four years to file the will for probate, it may be invalid. Before visiting a court, the executor should be aware of the time limits that must be followed when filing a will for probate. In addition, there are some exceptions to the four-year time limit. If the executor has applied for an extension of the time limit, the court may allow this application and the executor may be granted an additional period of time to file the will for probate. If a minor or disabled person has been appointed to receive the estate, the time limit may be extended to six years. Finally, if the executor is having difficulty locating beneficiaries of the estate, he or she may inform the court of the issue and the court may grant an extension of the time limit. The court will consider the efforts of the executor to locate the beneficiaries in deciding whether to grant an extension.

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