KeepMyProof
After a parent dies · Washington
Executor duties and deadlines in Washington
In Washington, the personal representative must make a sworn inventory and appraisement within three months after appointment. In Washington, the inventory states each item's fair net value as of the date of death, after debts secured by the item. Rules change, so check each official source below, and ask a lawyer licensed in Washington about your situation.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- In Washington, the personal representative must make a sworn inventory and appraisement within three months after appointment. Revised Code of Washington § 11.44.015. Checked November 2, 2026
- In Washington, the inventory states each item's fair net value as of the date of death, after debts secured by the item. Revised Code of Washington § 11.44.015. Checked November 2, 2026
- In Washington, the inventory does not have to be filed with the court, but heirs, beneficiaries and creditors with filed claims can request a copy. Revised Code of Washington § 11.44.015. Checked November 2, 2026
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Will or trust copies
- Death certificates
- Court papers naming the executor
- Accounts and property papers
- Bills and letters to close out
- Family land papers (heirs' property)
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Washington
- Creditor claim deadlines for an estate in Washington
- How to order a death certificate in Washington
- How probate works in Washington after a parent dies
- Small estates in Washington: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Transfer-on-death deeds for a home in Washington
- Executor checklist: papers after a parent dies: the full guide
- Executor duties and deadlines: all states
Neighbouring states
- Executor duties and deadlines in Idaho
- Executor duties and deadlines in Oregon
- Executor duties and deadlines in Virginia
- Executor duties and deadlines in West Virginia
Questions
Where do these Washington facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Revised Code of Washington § 11.44.015. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Washington or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for after a parent dies?
A good start: Will or trust copies; Death certificates; Court papers naming the executor; Accounts and property papers; Bills and letters to close out; Family land papers (heirs' property). Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.