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No, in Washington, you do not need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, Washington allows you to make your will "self-proving" and you'll need to go to a notary if you want to do that. A self-proving will speeds up probate because the court can accept the will without contacting the witnesses who signed it.

For many estates, probate is a simple process in Washington. Probate gives someone, usually the surviving spouse or other close family member, authority to gather the deceased person's assets, pay debts and taxes, and eventually transfer assets to the people who inherit them.

If the decedent died without a Will, a petition is filed to appoint a personal representative to administer the estate and the assets of the decedent pass by way of the intestate succession laws of the State of Washington. The court issues letters of administration in the case of a probate without a Will.

A will can be handwritten (known as a ?holographic will?) as long as it meets the requirements outlined above. Oral wills, also known as ?nuncupative wills,? are not valid in Washington, except under very specific circumstances for servicemembers of the Armed Forces or Merchant Marine.

This process requires you to take the following steps: Open probate. ... Notify all interested parties of your appointment as personal representative. ... Notify the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). ... Gather assets and information. ... Prepare an inventory and appraisement. ... Determine debts. ... Notify creditors.

Yes. You can make your own will in Washington State. You are not required to use an attorney to draft a will. However, because a will is a legal document, you want to create a will that the court will accept.