Free Washington Last Will and Testament

 
 

What is a Last Will and Testament?

A Washington Last Will and Testament is a crucial instrument that identifies the way your assets will be divided once you perish. The one who writes a last will is called a testator. When they pass away, they might also be called the decedent. The testator might also designate a guardian for their minors in the document to make sure there's someone who can keep an eye on the children until they grow to be adults or until they get to a specific age.
In a Washington Final Will, the decedent typically also names a personal representative-or co-personal agents (several persons acting jointly in this regard) to be in charge of the matters of the estate. A personal agent is somebody who gathers all the information concerning the decedent’s financial debt and possessions, pays off any remaining debts with the assets, and makes certain that the decedent’s property is distributed as instructed in the Will, so this is a role with quite a bit of responsibility. The personal agent picked is often a friend or relative the will creator really trusts to conclude their final wishes.

In cases where someone dies with no legitimate Washington Last Will and Testament (which in the majority of states means the document must be correctly witnessed, not only signed), somebody will usually be selected by the probate court to become the personal agent and cover the decedent’s financial obligations, using assets as needed to do so. Subsequently, the residual assets will be distributed among the decedent’s beneficiaries as per the legislation of the state the will creator lived in.

In several states, if one spouse passes away leaving behind their partner, that living spouse will receive the decedent’s property without a Last Will stating the opposite. Furthermore, the decedent might have predetermined a particular individual to acquire a life insurance policy, retirement account, or some other asset, and this beneficiary designation will establish who is given those assets even without a Last Will and Testament.

The critical thing to be aware of is the fact that anybody who wishes to define the way in which their assets will be used after their death should undoubtedly make and correctly sign a Last Will and Testament to ensure their wishes are recognized and executed. With no will, you might be leaving it up to chance, the laws of the state, or a lawcourt regarding just how your final affairs will be taken care of.

Washington Last Will Paper

In the modern world, you can plan everything, including the fate of your property after your death. For this in the State of Washington, one draws up a special document called Last Will. With the help of it, you can leave instructions on the distribution of the property acquired and accumulated by you. But the action of the document is not limited to this. Below we will tell you more about how you can use this form in Washington.

Who Should Issue the Document?

Last will is optional under state law. In its absence, the property of the deceased is divided between relatives following the laws of the state, and the division is conducted by the court. But the result of such a division can be very far from the wishes of a person. Therefore, it is worth protecting your loved ones and making the last will.

Previously, it was believed that this document is necessary only for the rich, distributing their fabulous fortune to numerous relatives. But this is not the case. We advise everyone who cares about their family and has even the slightest savings to draw up this document.

What Last Will in Washington Can Be Used For

The most common purpose of using this form is, of course, property distribution. It can be:

  • Cash savings

  • Bank accounts

  • Real property

  • Vehicles

  • Objects of art and luxury

  • Shares in companies

  • And other property

In addition, last will can be used to:

  • Make a charitable gift to a person or organization

  • Create trust for any person

  • Establish a trust for your pet to provide proper care after your death

  • Appoint a legal guardian for the children

Legal Rules for Creating a Last Will in Washington

Certain conditions must be met for the document to be recognized as legally correct and the court accepted it:

  1. A testator must be over 18 years old

  2. A testator must be of sound mind and sign the document of own free will

  3. The document must be in writing

  4. The form must be signed by the testator or their representative

  5. Two witnesses must also sign the document, while the beneficiaries of the document cannot act in these roles

  6. Any person can act as a beneficiary without restrictions.

The form must be proven in probate court for the court to recognize the conditions set out in the last will. After that, the property can be distributed.

It is also worth mentioning that there is a simplified probate process for small estates. Small estates are considered up to $ 100,000.

Restrictions on the Distribution of Property

In Washington state, there are restrictions on the right to distribute property. These exceptions include:

  • Half of the common property is necessarily transferred to the living spouse if any

  • Property owned in joint tenancy with right of survivorship

  • Share to a child born or adopted after the will’s fulfilling if excluded from the will unless it arises from either the will or other evidence that omission was prearranged

  • Share to surviving spouse or domestic partner if entered into a marriage or domestic partnership after will’s performance, if excluded from the will, unless it appears from either the will or other proof that omission was prearranged

What Happens If You Don't Compose Last Will

In the absence of a document, all your property will be divided between your relatives.

If you have no children but have a spouse or domestic partner, then all property will go to them. If, in addition to the spouse, there are living parents, then they can also claim a quarter of the property.

In the absence of next of kin, the court will begin to distribute property between more distant relatives — siblings, grandparents, uncles, and aunts.

Changes or Cancellation of Last Will

Over the course of your life, your circumstances and desires may change, so it makes sense that you might want to make changes to the document. This is quite simple to do. You will need to write an addendum to the document and attach it to the original form.

If you want to undo the action of the document, then you have two options:

  1. Destroy document

  2. Create a new one that completely cancels the action of the first

Last Will Forms for Neighboring States