In a Washington nonintervention probate, the most common way to close the estate is by filing a Declaration of Completion of Probate under RCW 11.68.110. This process allows the Personal Representative (PR) to complete the administration without further court involvement.
Another statutory method exists—filing a Petition for a Decree of Distribution under RCW 11.68.100—but Agile Estate Planning does not currently provide forms to support closing probate using that method.
The workflow supported by Agile EP focuses on closing the estate through a Declaration of Completion of Probate.
Confirm That Estate Administration Is Complete
Before preparing a Declaration of Completion, the Personal Representative should ensure that the administration of the estate has been completed. This generally means that:
Estate assets have been collected and identified
Debts and expenses have been paid or otherwise resolved
Taxes have been determined and paid or provided for
The estate is ready for final distribution
Once administration is complete, the Personal Representative may prepare and file a Declaration of Completion of Probate.
Prepare the Declaration of Completion
Every Declaration of Completion must include specific information describing the estate and confirming that administration has been completed.
The declaration must state:
The date of the decedent’s death
The decedent’s residence at the time of death
Whether the decedent died testate or intestate
If the decedent died testate, the declaration must also include:
The date of the decedent’s Last Will and Testament
The date of the order admitting the Will to probate
A statement that creditor claims properly presented have been paid or otherwise resolved
A statement that estate taxes have been determined and paid or provided for
A statement that the Personal Representative has completed the administration without court intervention and that the estate is ready to be settled and distributed
If the decedent died intestate, the declaration must identify:
The names and addresses of each heir (if known)
Each heir’s relationship to the decedent
The distributive share of each heir
The declaration must also disclose the amount of fees paid or to be paid to:
The Personal Representative
Attorneys
Appraisers
Accountants
The declaration must include a statement that the Personal Representative believes the fees are reasonable and does not intend to obtain court approval of those fees or submit an estate accounting for court approval.
Determine Whether Receipts and Waivers Will Be Used
A probate may be closed by filing the Declaration of Completion together with Receipts and Waivers from all required parties.
The relevant parties are defined in RCW 11.96A.030(5) and include individuals whose property rights may be affected by the estate administration, such as heirs, devisees, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and creditors with unresolved claims.
This approach may be used only when:
The Personal Representative has nonintervention powers under RCW 11.68.011
All required parties have received their full distributions
All required parties have signed Receipts and Waivers of Notice under RCW 11.68.110(2)
The Personal Representative does not need court approval of fees, accountings, or distributions
If these conditions are met, the Declaration of Completion becomes effective immediately upon filing. There is no 30-day waiting period, the Personal Representative is automatically discharged, and any bond is exonerated on the same day.
If Receipts and Waivers are not obtained from all required parties, the Declaration of Completion may still be filed. In that situation, the Personal Representative must provide notice of the filing and wait through the statutory 30-day objection period. If no objection is filed during that period, the Declaration becomes the legal equivalent of a decree of distribution and the Personal Representative is discharged.
Obtain Receipts and Waivers from Beneficiaries and Parties
The document a person signs depends on their role in the estate. Each beneficiary entitled to notice should sign a Receipt and Waiver of Notice confirming that:
They acknowledge receipt of their full distribution
They waive notice of the Declaration of Completion under RCW 11.68.110
They approve the administration and release the Personal Representative
Other parties entitled to notice may sign a Waiver of Notice, confirming that they:
Waive notice of the Declaration of Completion
Approve the administration
Release the Personal Representative