In King County

This packet contains the forms and instructions needed to probate an estate when there is no valid will.

The instructions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. If you do not understand this information, please contact an attorney. If your specific situation is beyond the scope of this packet, please contact an attorney.

Probate is the legal process for distributing a person’s property after they have died. 

The person who died is called the “Decedent”. The things that the Decedent owned are called the “Estate”. The person who becomes responsible for managing the Decedent’s estate is called the “Personal Representative”. The legal document that makes a person the Personal Representative is called “Letters of Administration”. 

The probate process is a court case used to gather the assets of a person who has died, settle their debts, and distribute the assets to their heirs. There are two types of probate. If the Decedent died with a Will, the probate is called “testate probate.” If the Decedent died without a Will, the probate is called “intestate probate.” 

The instructions and forms in this packet are for a basic intestate probate. They may help with the following things: 

• Open a probate case when there is agreement of the heirs
• Request that the Court allow you take charge of the estate
• Request that the Court issue Letters of Administration
• Close a probate case when there is agreement of the heirs