Washington Last Will - Form and Laws
When most people think about estate planning, they think about wills. A will is a document that specifies how a person's property should be distributed after death. In most cases, a will must be executed by a notary public and filed with the court in order to be valid. In Washington, a will must be in writing and must be signed by the testator or by another person in the testator's presence and at the testator's direction. The testator must also be at least 18 years old. A will can be revoked or amended at any time, as long as the testator is mentally competent. A will can be used to dispose of real property, personal property, or both. Property that is specifically mentioned in a will is known as a bequest. If a person dies without a will, his or her property will be distributed according to the laws of intestate succession. In Washington, the laws of intestate succession are relatively simple. If the deceased person is survived by a spouse and/or children, the spouse and/or children will inherit the deceased person's property. If the deceased person is not survived by a spouse or children, the deceased person's property will be distributed to his or her parents, siblings, or other relatives.
There are several things to keep in mind when creating a will. For example, a will does not take effect until the testator's death. In addition, a will may be subject to probate, which is a legal process used to distribute a person's property after death. Probate can be expensive and time consuming, so it is often a good idea to have a will drafted by an attorney. An attorney can also help you create an estate plan that will minimize the amount of property that must go through probate. If you are interested in creating a will, or if you have questions about estate planning, please contact an attorney for more information.