State of Washington. This procedure allows someone legally entitled to inherit a decedent's personal property to get that property without going through probate.1. Status. I am the surviving spouse of George Washington, who died on August 1, 2003, at Seattle, King County, Washington. How to Probate a Washington Descendant's Estate --- To "Do It Yourself" without a Lawyer Blank Forms Alphabetical The vast majority of surviving spouses have to hire a lawyer and go through a formal probate in the State of Washington. A blank form for the Affidavit of Successor is attached. Decedent left a Last Will and Testament which HAS NOT been Probated or Revoked. Washington law provides simple alternative to formal probate for collection and distribution of a deceased person's personal property. The person who has died is called the Decedent. A person who is receiving the property is called a Successor.