How Long Does Probate Take in Washington State? (And Can You Sell the House Before It’s Finished?)

Washington probate is governed by RCW Title 11. Here is what the process looks like for a typical Everett inherited home:

The executor of the estate has legal authority to sell estate assets, including real property, during probate — without waiting for the process to complete. The Washington Courts probate self-help guide confirms this. The sale proceeds go into the estate account. Creditor claims are resolved from those proceeds. Remaining funds are distributed to heirs once probate closes.

This is the fact that changes the financial math for most inherited home sellers. The house does not have to sit vacant for 4 to 6 months accumulating property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs while you wait for probate to finish. The sale can happen now. Probate resolves what happens to the proceeds.

Kirk and Tami inherited their uncle’s home in Marysville. The probate was uncontested — no disputed will, no complex creditor claims. But they live in California, and the idea of managing a long-distance property through a 5-month probate process while also handling a traditional listing was impossible. We made them an offer during probate. The executor signed the purchase agreement. We closed in 14 days. The proceeds went into the estate account. Probate continued on its normal timeline. Kirk and Tami never had to fly to Washington.

If the person who died did not leave a valid will, the estate passes through Washington’s intestate succession laws. RCW Title 11 lays out how assets are distributed among surviving spouse, children, parents, and siblings depending on the specific family situation. The probate process itself is similar to testate (will-based) probate, but the executor must be appointed by the court rather than named in a will, and the distribution follows the statutory formula rather than the decedent’s wishes.

The sale of real property during an intestate probate follows the same rules: the court-appointed administrator has authority to sell, proceeds go to the estate account, distribution follows the intestate formula after probate closes.

If you have inherited a home in the Everett area and you’re trying to figure out whether selling during probate makes sense, the first step is understanding where you are in the process. Contact your probate attorney and ask specifically: ‘Has the executor been appointed? Has notice to creditors been published? Can we sell the property now?’ The answers to those three questions tell you where you stand.

Then contact us. We work with probate attorneys regularly. We know how to structure a cash purchase that works within the Snohomish County probate process. Give us the address and tell us where things stand. We’ll give you a number within 24 hours.

If you have inherited a home in the Everett area and you’re trying to figure out whether selling during probate makes sense, the first step is understanding where you are in the process. Contact your probate attorney and ask specifically: ‘Has the executor been appointed? Has notice to creditors been published? Can we sell the property now?’ The answers to those three questions tell you where you stand.

Then contact us. We work with probate attorneys regularly. We know how to structure a cash purchase that works within the Snohomish County probate process. Give us the address and tell us where things stand. We’ll give you a number within 24 hours.