This is one of the most important tabs in the entire Opening Package—Do not skip this page.
The Assign Roles to Parties tab is where you categorize each entered party according to their legal role in the probate matter.
Every party entered in prior tabs (Client, Spouse, Children & Grandchildren, Other Parties, Trusts, etc.) must be assigned at least one role. These role assignments directly control document content, notice requirements, and signature blocks.
Why This Tab Matters
Role assignments determine:
Who must receive statutory notice
How each party is described in the Petition
Which documents are generated
Who appears in signature blocks
Who qualifies as an heir
Who qualifies as a beneficiary
Whether nonprobate notice requirements apply
Whether a Guardian ad Litem may be needed
If a party is entered but not assigned a role, they may be omitted from required notices or pleadings.
This tab is where the drafting logic is activated.
Party vs. Role
It is critical to understand the distinction between a party and a role.
A party is a person or entity entered into the system.
A role tells the system how that party should be treated in the probate.
A single party may have multiple roles.
For example:
A surviving spouse may be both an Heir and an Estate Beneficiary.
A child may be both an Estate Beneficiary and a Nonprobate Asset Beneficiary.
A trust may be an Estate Beneficiary, while its trustee is separately identified in the party structure.
Roles do not create new parties. They categorize existing ones.
Common Roles in a Testate Probate
The system allows you to assign one or more of the following roles.
Heir
An heir is a person entitled to inherit under Washington intestacy law. Even in a testate probate (where a Will exists), heirs may still be entitled to notice.
Heir designation is typically based on:
Marital status
Children and descendants
Property characterization
If unsure whether someone qualifies as an heir, return to the Review the Decedent’s Heirs tool in the Other Parties Tab.
Estate Beneficiary
An estate beneficiary is a person or entity receiving property under the Will.
This may include:
Individuals
Trusts
Charities
Custodial arrangements
A beneficiary under the Will is not necessarily an heir.
Nonprobate Asset Beneficiary
A nonprobate beneficiary receives assets outside the Will (e.g., POD, TOD, joint tenancy, retirement account).
Under RCW 11.28.237, certain nonprobate beneficiaries must receive notice of the pendency of probate after appointment. Assign this role when applicable so notice requirements are properly triggered.
Special Notice Recipient
Some parties may require notice even if they are not heirs or beneficiaries.
Examples may include:
Interested parties with statutory rights
Parties entitled to special notice under specific circumstances
Assign this role when notice must be provided but the party does not otherwise qualify as heir or beneficiary.
Assigning Roles
To assign roles:
Click Add Each Probate Party.
Select the party from the list.
Assign all applicable roles.
Save.
Repeat for each party entered in the system. If you missed a party, go back to the Other Parties Tab and add them and then come back to the Assign Roles to Parties tab to assign a role.
Every party must be categorized.
Multiple Roles Are Common
It is normal for a single party to hold multiple roles.
Examples:
Surviving spouse: Heir + Estate Beneficiary
Child: Estate Beneficiary + Nonprobate Beneficiary
Trust: Estate Beneficiary
Remote heir not named in Will: Heir only
Do not limit a party to a single role if more apply.
Failure to assign all applicable roles may result in incomplete notice or incorrect pleadings.