After a Loved One Dies
After a loved one’s passing, you may find yourself responsible for handling their legal and financial affairs. If you’ve been named as the executor of an estate—or you’re simply trying to figure out what to do next—a Washington probate attorney can help you take the right steps at the right time.
1. The First Days and Weeks
In the days following a loved one’s passing, focus on caring for yourself and your family. There’s rarely anything that must be done immediately for the estate. When you are ready, you can begin with small, manageable steps. If it brings you peace of mind, you may wish to contact an estate lawyer (or a probate lawyer) early on to discuss the general process and make a short-term plan. It’s also a good idea to make sure the decedent’s home, mail, and vehicles are secure.
2. Gathering Information
Within the next few weeks, you can begin to organize important information:
Locate key documents such as a will, trust, and community property agreement.
Collect recent bills and financial statements.
Order certified death certificates through the funeral home or directly from the Washington State Department of Health. We recommend ordering about eight long-form copies to start.
Meet with an estate attorney. At Jordan Law Firm, our Edmonds estate attorney team helps executors and trustees understand their responsibilities and stay organized. Under our flat-fee structure, clients can reach out by phone or email anytime without worrying about hourly charges. Your attorney will help you make a plan to tackle next steps.
3. Reviewing Assets and Debts
As executor or trustee, your next step is to make a list of the decedent’s assets and liabilities. You may not have all the details right away—just keep track of mail and email as it arrives.
Notify banks and financial institutions of the death and ask about beneficiary designations.
Freeze credit cards and stop unnecessary recurring payments (but keep essential ones like utilities, if there is real estate, active).
4. Small Estate Affidavit
If the estate is modest, you may be able to use a small estate affidavit instead of going through probate. Certain requirements apply, including asset value limits and notice to other beneficiaries. Some banks provide their own forms, but if needed, Jordan Law Firm can prepare one that meets Washington’s statutory requirements.
Let us know if you need help determining whether this simplified process is available based on the estate’s size and circumstances.
5. When Probate Is Needed
You may hear that you need “Letters Testamentary” to handle financial accounts or transfer property. These are issued through the probate process. Probate officially appoints the executor and authorizes them to act on behalf of the estate.
Probate under Washington State probate law is typically straightforward and not adversarial. It can often be completed efficiently with the right guidance. In most cases, your attorney can handle court filings for you, and you may not need to appear in person.
6. Trust Administration
If your loved one created a trust, the trustee must follow the terms of the trust and manage assets for the beneficiaries. This often involves obtaining a tax ID number (EIN) from the IRS, setting up new accounts, and keeping beneficiaries informed. If the decedent had a testamentary trust in their will, the trustee may receive assets from the probate estate.
The estate lawyer’s role is to help trustees navigate these steps, prepare required notices, and ensure compliance with their fiduciary duties.
7. How We Can Help
At Jordan Law Firm, we assist clients throughout Edmonds, North Seattle, and surrounding areas of Snohomish and King Counties with every aspect of a nonadversarial probate and trust administration. Whether you’re serving as executor or trustee, we help you navigate the process with clarity, compassion, and confidence.