Statute of Limitations for Probate Creditor's Claims

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Washington Probate Instructions

Statute of Limitations for Creditor's Claims

Actual Notice Sent to Claimant		Applicable Statute of Limitations
Yes		The later of: 4 months from date of first publication of Probate Notice to Creditors, or 30 days from date of mailing of actual notice.
No
	Claimant was not there to be, or not expected to have been, found in your reasonable review	4 months from date of first publication of Probate Notice to Creditors
	Claimant was there to be, and should have been, found in your reasonable review	24 months from Decedent's date of death

Washington law does not require a Personal Representative to publish a Probate Notice to Creditors --- the legislature has just made it highly advantageous to do so in most circumstances:

Publishing a Probate Notice to Creditors may allow you to significantly reduce
the Statute of Limitations below 24 months after date of death.

It will allow you to reduce the Statute to 4 months after the date of first publication for any claim that would NOT have been expected to have been found in a diligent review of Decedent's correspondence and financial records.