The Other Parties tab is where you enter all remaining interested parties in the intestate probate matter other than the decedent's surviving spouse, children, and grandchildren.
The spouse and descendants should already be entered in their respective tabs. In an intestate estate, the parties entered here are typically other statutory heirs — parents, siblings, and other relatives — as well as nonprobate beneficiaries and special notice recipients who have an interest in or connection to the estate.
Why This Tab Matters
Every interested person or entity must be entered before roles are assigned and documents are generated.
Incomplete party entry can result in:
- Missing statutory notice recipients
- Omitted heirs
- Incorrect pleadings
- Deficiencies in waivers or consents
Accurate party entry ensures proper notice, correct drafting, and compliance with Washington probate law.
Who Should Be Entered on This Tab
Use this tab to enter:
- Heirs not captured in prior tabs — parents, siblings, grandparents, nieces, nephews, and other relatives who may be statutory heirs under RCW 11.02.070
- Nonprobate beneficiaries when notice is required
- Special notice recipients
Do not re-enter the surviving spouse, children, or grandchildren They are already in the system from earlier tabs. Adding them again will cause duplicate entries that affect notices, waivers, and document generation.
Heirs and Nonprobate Beneficiaries
In intestate probate, there are no Will beneficiaries. Therefore, the parties on this tab fall into two primary categories.
Heirs
Heirs are the persons entitled to inherit under Washington intestacy law (RCW 11.02.070). Who qualifies as an heir depends on the decedent's family structure and the character of the estate's assets. Before completing role assignments on the next tab, use the Review the Decedent's Heirs tool to confirm who the statutory heirs are. See the section below for guidance on using that tool.
Nonprobate Beneficiaries
If nonprobate beneficiaries — such as payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designees, joint tenants, or retirement account beneficiaries — differ from the statutory heirs, they should be entered here. Under RCW 11.28.237, certain nonprobate beneficiaries must receive notice of the pendency of probate after appointment. Entering them ensures proper role assignment and notice.
The Party and Their Representative
Each party you enter is the person or entity that holds the legal interest — the heir or nonprobate beneficiary. This is separate from who receives notice on that party's behalf.
The "Party Representative" section of each entry allows you to identify a legal representative for notice purposes — for example, an attorney, a parent for a minor heir, or a guardian. When a representative is entered:
- Statutory notices will be directed to the representative instead of the underlying party
- The pleadings will reflect that the party is represented, but will still identify the party as the interest holder
- Notice tracking will follow the representative's contact information
The underlying party remains the legal interest holder. The representative is designated solely for notice purposes.
Review the Decedent's Heirs Tool
The Review the Decedent's Heirs button is located at the bottom of this tab. It applies Washington's intestacy statutes to the family facts you have entered — marital status, spouse, children, descendants, and property characterization — and identifies who the legal heirs are.
Use this tool before proceeding to the Assign Roles tab. The tool's output determines which parties should receive heir roles.
How to Read the Results
The tool displays a recommended heir determination and a reasoning line explaining the basis for that determination. Common results include:
- Recommended Heirs: Decedent's spouse only — all property is community property and all children are joint children of both the decedent and the surviving spouse. The spouse takes the entire estate. Children have no inheritance interest.
- Recommended Heirs: Spouse and children — the estate includes separate property, partial community property, or children who are not joint children of both the decedent and the surviving spouse. Children share in the estate.
- Recommended Heirs: Children only — no surviving spouse. Children inherit under RCW 11.04.015.
- Recommended Heirs: [Other relatives] — no surviving spouse or descendants. The tool identifies the next class of heirs (parents, siblings, etc.) based on the family facts entered.
Clear Previous Analysis
If you update party information in earlier tabs after running the tool, use Clear Previous Analysis before running the tool again. This ensures the results reflect your most current entries.
The tool recommends — it does not decide
The Heirs Tool applies statutory rules to the facts you have entered. If the results appear incomplete or incorrect, review and update the earlier tabs before proceeding. You are responsible for confirming the legal accuracy of the heir determination before assigning roles.