Washington Small Estate Affidavit | Affidavit of Heirship
Washington state allows heirs or other interested parties, including creditors with evidence of a decedent’s debts, to file either the affidavit of heirship or the small estate affidavit to claim bank accounts, trusts, final paychecks and other debts, vehicles, real estate, and other tangible or real estate property. The “small estate” must value $100,000 or less, and interested parties must wait at least 40 days before filing the affidavits. These affidavits allow loved ones to avoid the time and expense of probate court when there is no last will and testament, and allows creditors to retrieve their debts out of a deceased person’s estate before it is passed on to heirs.
Affidavit of Heirship: When 40 days have passed after a loved one dies, successors may file the affidavit of heirship in Washington state to claim personal and tangible property up to $100,000 in value.
Small Estate Affidavit: in Washington, no creditors may file the small estate affidavit or other affidavits unless they are government agencies, like the Department of Social Services.