What rights do heirs have to a will?

An heir has the right to receive property or assets that were left to them in a will. In the state of Washington, the rights of the heir depend on the type of will. If the will is “testate”, meaning it is a valid, legally binding document, the heir is entitled to receive the inheritance according to the terms provided in the will. In this case, the executor of the estate has to make sure the wishes of the deceased are fulfilled. On the other hand, if the will is “intestate”, meaning it is not a valid will and therefore not legally binding, the heirs have the right to the estate under Washington’s intestacy laws. This means that the estate is divided according to the laws governing the state, and not necessarily according to the wishes of the deceased. An heir also has the right to contest a will to challenge its validity. In Washington, this process must be initiated within four months of the date the will was filed in court. The court will then review the evidence including any documents related to the will’s authenticity. If the court decides the will is invalid, the heir is entitled to receive an inheritance according to the state’s intestacy laws. In addition, an heir may also have the right to choose to receive their inheritance in a form other than what is stipulated in the will. Whether this is possible depends on the laws in the state of Washington. Therefore, it is important to be familiar with the laws governing wills and probate in the state in order to understand the full rights and entitlements of the heir.

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