Once the court appoints the Administrator and issues Letters of Administration, several statutory notice requirements arise. These notices inform interested parties and government agencies that probate has been opened and identify the appointed Administrator.
Unlike the Opening Package Notice & Waivers tab — which determines whether advance notice or waivers are required before appointment — the Post-Appointment Package focuses on notices that must be sent after the Administrator has been appointed. If you are looking for advance notice or waiver requirements for opening probate, see this article.
Selecting Post-Appointment Documents
Within the Document Selection screen of the Post-Appointment Package, you must choose which post-appointment documents to generate. These documents fall into three general categories:
- Notice to probate parties
- Notice to government agencies
- Administrative notices and supporting documentation
Select the documents appropriate for your probate matter based on the parties involved, agency reporting obligations, and the administration strategy for the estate.
Notice to Probate Parties
Washington law requires that interested parties be informed once probate has been opened and an Administrator has been appointed. Agile EP allows you to generate:
- Notice of Appointment Pleading Letter
- Mailing Notice of Appointment to Probate Parties
- Declaration of Mailing Notice of Appointment to Probate Parties
These documents notify heirs and other interested persons that:
- Probate has been opened
- The court has appointed an Administrator
- The Administrator has authority to administer the estate
The Declaration of Mailing documents the mailing of these notices for the court file.
EHB 2445 — 30-Day Heir Notice Report EHB 2445 (effective June 11, 2026) adds a requirement that the Administrator file a report with the court no later than 30 days after appointment confirming notice was provided to heirs and other third parties, including details of the search used to identify them. This requirement applies to supervised (full intervention) probates. Agile Estate Planning drafts nonintervention probates only and does not currently generate this report. If your matter requires full court supervision, manual drafting outside the system will be needed for this filing.
Notice to Government Agencies
In many probate matters, notice must also be sent to certain government agencies. Agile EP includes document options to notify:
Washington Department of Revenue (DOR)
Documents available:
- Transmittal Letter Mailing DOR Notice of Probate
- Declaration of Mailing to DOR
This notice alerts the Department of Revenue that probate has been opened and allows the agency to evaluate potential tax obligations.
Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
Documents available:
- Transmittal Letter Mailing DSHS Notice of Probate
- Declaration of Mailing to DSHS
This notice allows DSHS to determine whether the decedent received benefits that may be subject to estate recovery.
Federal Tax and Identification Filings
The Post-Appointment Package also includes documents related to federal tax administration.
IRS Form SS-4
This form is used to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for the estate when required. An EIN is typically needed if the estate:
- Maintains estate bank accounts
- Generates income during administration
- Files fiduciary income tax returns
IRS Form 56
IRS Form 56 notifies the IRS that a fiduciary relationship exists and identifies the Administrator as the fiduciary responsible for the estate's tax matters.
Probate Notice to Creditors
The Post-Appointment Package includes documents related to the probate creditor notice process, including:
- Probate Notice to Creditors
- Affidavit of Publication of Notice to Creditors
- Creditor Claims Checklist for Administrator
Publishing a Notice to Creditors begins the statutory creditor claim process and can significantly shorten the period during which creditors may submit claims against the estate. Because publishing creditor notice is a strategic decision, Agile EP also includes client letters in the Post-Appointment Package that explain the creditor process to the Administrator. These letters help the Administrator understand:
- The purpose of publishing a Notice to Creditors
- The advantages and disadvantages of publishing
- The potential impact on creditor claim deadlines
After reviewing these materials with your client, you can decide whether the estate should publish notice to creditors. If the decision is made to publish, the Post-Appointment Package allows you to prepare and initiate the publication process, including generating the notice and related documentation.
While the Post-Appointment Package allows you to start the creditor notice process, the ongoing administration of creditor matters — including reviewing claims, responding to claims, and resolving creditor issues — is handled in the Managing Creditors and Claims Package.
Additional Administrative Documents
The Post-Appointment Package also allows you to generate administrative documents that help the Administrator begin the practical work of estate administration. Examples include:
- Authorization for Firm to Access Decedent's Information
- Letter from Client to Credit Agencies Notifying of Death
- Various client guidance letters to the Administrator