How to Probate a Washington Descendant's Estate ---
To "Do It Yourself" without a Lawyer

File an Affidavit of Publication

To obtain the benefits of publishing a Probate Notice to Creditors, you are required to file an Affidavit of Publication, showing that the Probate Notice to Creditors has been published according to law.  RCW 11.40.020(1)  Following its third publication, most newspapers, after getting paid, and at no further charge, will prepare and either:

  • File the required Affidavit of Publication with the pertinent Court and send you a copy of it, or
  • Send you the original of their Affidavit of Publication for you to file (which the Daily Journal of Commerce, in King County, does).
  • Example of Affidavit of Publication

Caution: When you send your Probate Notice to Creditors to the newspaper for publication, make sure to obtain that newspaper’s policy regarding the disposition of its Affidavit of Publication (ie, will the newspaper mail the Affidavit to you? or file it with the Court itself?), and after publication, make sure that the original of the Affidavit of Publication is filed with the Court, either by the newspaper or by you.