"Probate" is a court proceeding in which final debts are settled and legal title to property is formally passed from the deceased person. Probate laws are state specific and in Washington a probate is necessary if the property subject to probate exceeds $100,000, or contains any real property (real estate.) see
RCW 11.62.01.(2)(c).
Probate is generally straight forward and not particularly time consuming. There is a $230 filing fee, and letters testamentary cost $5 each. If you publish for creditors, the cost is usually $120 to $300. There are recording costs if real property is to be distributed. If there is no will (intestate) there is usually the added cost of a bond, but most other costs will be the same.
The time to complete a probate varies widely, from a few weeks or less to many years, depending on many factors.
Mr. Williams’ flat fee for a probate is $1,600 plus costs, assuming there is no litigation or complex issue involved, and no out of state property. More complex representation is at an hourly rate. He requests an advanced fee deposit of $2,100.
Many clients have agreed to act in a "fiduciary" capacity, as a Attorney in Fact under a Power of Attorney, as a guardian, as a trustee of a trust, or as a personal representitive/Administrator/Executor of an estate. In addition, you may in fact be a fiduciary if you are acting on someone's behalf, even if it is not formally through a document. There are many duties and responsibilities of a fiduciary that are neither intuitive nor well known. Legal representation is often prudent.
An excellent resource for understanding your fiduciary responsibiltiies can be found at the website for the
Estate Planning Counsel of Seattle. You can purchase the book for $5, or you can download it for free by clicking the "download this publication" link.
Mr. Williams can assist you in both Estate Administration and other Fiduciary duties.