If a loved one has passed away and they have a Will, then that is a good thing!  To me, it means that there has been some planning done by your loved one.  Hopefully, the Will is well done and does not have any defects.  Generally, a Will needs a few things to be valid in Washington.  One of the things that should be apparent is that you are working with the Original document.  If you think that it is a copy, then hopefully you know where the Original document is.  That is a requirement. 

Next, look to make sure that the Will is signed by the testator (the person who made the Will).  If it is, then move on to the witness signatures.  If there are at least two signatures and you have the printed names of the witnesses there, too, then that is a good start.  We also look for more than this to validate the witness information – but, having the two witness signatures present on the Will below the testator’s signature is another key aspect of a valid Will in Washington.

These are not the only things that make a Will valid in Washington.  There are others that we look for.  

If you would like our assistance with probate and the Will validation process then you may want to speak to a probate attorney.  All you need to do is call our offices at (360) 364-5030 to schedule an initial consultation for prospective personal representatives.  During that consultation we will review the Will and give you our assessment.  You can also press the button below and schedule the meeting yourself right now. 

I hope this helps you.