WA estate risk
Intestacy risk in Washington
How assets are distributed when there is no will and state default rules control the outcome.
Washington intestacy allocates all of the decedent's share of community property to the spouse or domestic partner and divides separate property based on surviving issue or parents.
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The surviving spouse or domestic partner receives all of the decedent's share of community property.
- Separate property: the spouse receives one-half if the decedent has issue, three-fourths if there are no issue but parents or their issue survive, or all if there are no issue or parents.
- Any remainder passes to issue by representation, then parents, then siblings or other relatives in statutory order.
- An heir must survive the decedent by 120 hours to inherit under intestacy.
How default rules work in practice
How this topic usually shows up for families
Washington intestacy allocates all of the decedent's share of community property to the spouse or domestic partner and divides separate property based on surviving issue or parents. Practically, families should separate probate assets from non-probate assets, confirm who has authority to act, and compare the default outcome with what the family expected.
Common misconceptions
Assumptions to check before relying on defaults
- Intestacy does not apply to every asset. It usually applies to probate assets without a valid will or beneficiary designation.
- Spouse and child shares can change when there are children from another relationship.
- A verbal family understanding is not the same as a legally effective estate plan.
Questions to consider
Questions to consider in Washington
- Who inherits first if there is no will?
- How do spouse and children shares change by scenario?
- What are the most common surprises families face?
State overview
Washington intestacy allocates all of the decedent's share of community property to the spouse or domestic partner and divides separate property based on surviving issue or parents.
- The surviving spouse or domestic partner receives all of the decedent's share of community property.
- Separate property: the spouse receives one-half if the decedent has issue, three-fourths if there are no issue but parents or their issue survive, or all if there are no issue or parents.
- Any remainder passes to issue by representation, then parents, then siblings or other relatives in statutory order.
- An heir must survive the decedent by 120 hours to inherit under intestacy.
Sources
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=11.04.015
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.04.250
Background sources
- Uniform Probate Code (2019) - Intestate succession (Article II)
Article II, Part 1 covers intestate succession, spouse/descendant shares, and representation rules.
National sources provide baseline context; state statutes and court rules control in Washington.
How this connects
How intestacy risk affects other estate risks
- Probate administration follows whichever heirs intestacy rules identify.
- Tax outcomes can change depending on who receives what and when.
- Guardianship decisions can affect how minor inheritances are managed.
What to review before getting advice
Details that usually shape this topic
- Identify which assets lack beneficiary designations.
- Confirm marital status, descendants, adopted children, and blended-family facts.
- Review how real estate and accounts are titled.
- Compare intended recipients with the statutory inheritance order.
Definitions in context
Terms that matter for intestacy risk in Washington
Intestate
Dying without a valid will controlling probate assets.
Descendant
A child, grandchild, or more remote lineal descendant who qualifies under state law.
Representation
A method for dividing shares among descendants when someone in the family line has died.
Related reading
Next reads for intestacy risk in Washington
Frequently asked questions
Intestacy risk questions in Washington
Who inherits first without a will in Washington?
State intestacy rules generally prioritize spouses and descendants, then parents, siblings, and more remote relatives if closer relatives do not survive.
Do beneficiary designations follow intestacy rules?
Usually no. Accounts with valid beneficiary designations typically transfer by contract rather than through intestacy.
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