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Washington Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

Washington PROBATE COURT FINDER:
- Probate Court for King County: Key information about your local probate court (Superior Court in Washington) for King County.
How Probate Works in Washington: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at King County's probate court.
- Here are links to:
  - Washington Probate Forms and the
  - Washington State Probate Court Website.
Small Estates Procedures in Washington: Learn how to use Washington's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.
- In Washington, you can use an Affidavit if the value of assets subject to probate, less liens and encumbrances, is $100,000 or less. This figure doesn't count surviving spouse's property or partner's community property interest. 40-day waiting period.
  
  Wash. Rev. Code 11.62.010 and following.
  
  The court may grant a request for settlement without court intervention if the estate is solvent and:
  
  if there's a Will, the personal representative makes a request
  
  if there's no Will, the surviving spouse or domestic partner makes the request, and the estate consists entirely of community property, and the decedent let no children or grandchildren from another relationship, or
  
  the personal representative is not a creditor of the decedent and the court determines it would be in the best interest of the beneficiaries and creditors.
  
  Wash. Rev. Code 11.68.011 and following.
Washington Estate Taxes:
- The state of Washington imposes an estate tax on property owned in Washington. If you are inheriting property from the state of Washington, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $2,193,000.
Avoiding Probate in Washington. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
- Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

Bankruptcy & Debt

MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
- for King County, Washington (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
Washington BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Washington law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy.
- Federal Exemptions available in Washington?:
  - Yes. Federal exemptions are available.
- Washington Homestead Exemption
  - Real property, manufactured home, or mobile home to the greater of (a) $125,000; (b) The county median sale price of a single-family home in the preceding calendar year (the statewide average for 2020 was $452,400); $172,900 to $729,600, depending on county.
- Washington Vehicle Exemption
  - Motor vehicles to $15,000 total
Washington BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

Washington Unemployment Benefits

Benefit Amounts in Washington: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
- Minimum:
  - $323 per week or your estimated weekly wage, whichever is less
- Maximum:
  - $1,019 per week
- Duration:
  - In Washington, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law.
Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Washington.
- Washington Employment Security Department
  - 800-318-6022
Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.
Washington Wage & Hour Law
- Washington Minimum Wage:
  - The minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Evergreen State must be paid at least $16.28 an hour. A couple of local governments in Washington have passed ordinances establishing a higher minimum wage.
    
    King County Minimum Wage
    
    The minimum wage in King County is $16.28 an hour, the state minimum wage. However, cities and counties in Washington are free to adopt their own higher minimum wage, and dozens of cities and counties across the country have done so. To find out whether King County has passed its own minimum wage law since we last updated, visit https://kingcounty.gov/.
    
    Bellevue Minimum Wage
    
    The current minimum wage in Bellevue is $16.28, the state minimum wage. However, cities in Washington are free to adopt their own higher minimum wage, and dozens of cities across the country have done so. To find out whether Bellevue has passed its own minimum wage law since we last updated, visit the city’s website at https://bellevuewa.gov/.
- Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Washington and whether they apply to you.
- Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Washington.
- Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Washington.
  - The tipped minimum wage in Washington is the same as the regular minimum wage: $16.28 an hour. Tips don't count against an employer's obligation to pay the minimum wage.