- Estate Planning: Wills, Trusts, Community Property Agreements, Transfer on Death Deed (“TODD”), Durable Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives aka “Living Wills”.
- Probate: With or without a Will; Trust Administration; Complicated Estates; Creditor’s Claims, Will Contests; Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (“TEDRA”) matters.
- Non-Probate Alternatives: Adjudications, Small Estates, and Affidavit Lack of Probate.
Canadian Non-U.S. Residents Have Non-Probate Alternatives to Transfer Real Estate in Washington State
- Washington State has innovative non-probate alternatives to transfer real estate upon death in comparison to B.C.
- Options include Community Property Agreements between spouses, and Transfer on Death Deed (“TODD”), which can be used between spouses, adult children, relatives or other beneficiaries.
- Another option includes an Affidavit Lack of Probate in Washington, which, in effect, clears title to real property in the name of the rightful surviving heirs.
- And even if a Probate is necessary it is often not as burdensome and expensive as in B.C. While there is a court filing fee in Washington, there are no “probate fees” which escalate with the value of the estate unlike B.C.