General information
A Will is a document that provides for the distribution of certain property owned by an individual after their death. A typical Will includes instructions regarding how property is to be distributed among beneficiaries and nominates a personal representative (also called an executor) to administer the estate in accordance with the Will.
The laws covering Wills can be found in RCW Chapter 11.12.
- Will Basics for Washington State infographic from the King County Law Library
- Will Basics for Washington State video from the King County Law Library
- Making a Will in Washington from Nolo
- Wills: What you need to know about creating a Last Will and Testament from the Washington State Bar Association
- Is My Self-Prepared Will Valid in Washington? from Navigate Law Group
- Washington Intestate Succession: What happens if you die without a Will? from Nolo
- Should I have a Trust or a Will? from Navigate Law Group
- Living Trust vs Will from Chapter Medicare
Forms and instructions
- Write Your Will from WashingtonWills.com
- Make My Will from Freewill.com
Storing a Will
Deciding where to keep your will is an important decision. You need your will to be both secure and accessible when you die and there are pros and cons of whatever choice you make:
- How to Safely Store Your Will from Nolo
The Clark County Clerk's Office offers a Will repository service that you can use to file your original Will for unsealing after you die. The clerk will provide you with a coversheet to file with your Will. You can keep a copy of that coversheet to use if you want to withdraw your Will from the repository in the future. Your Will can be accessed after your death. See the Filing the Will page for more information.
- Will repository service from the Superior Court Clerk's Office
Electronic Wills that can be signed and stored electronically rather than in paper are allowed under the Washington Uniform Electronic Wills Act.
- What the Uniform Electronic Wills Act Changes About Wills in Washington from the Washington State Bar Association
- WA Senate Bill 5132 from the National Notary Association
- Electronic Wills are Coming to Washington from King County Probates