Washington Administrator & Executor Bond

Probate Bonds From $100 – All 39 WA Counties

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A Washington executor bond or Washington administrator bond — together known as a probate bond, personal representative bond, or fiduciary bond — is required by a Washington Superior Court before a personal representative can manage the estate of a person who has died, unless an exception applies. Under RCW 11.28.185, the bond must be given in the amount and with the sureties the court directs before letters are issued. Premiums start at $100, are paid from estate funds, and the court sets the required bond amount based on the value of the estate.

Washington Probate Bond Pricing

Premiums are a small percentage of the court-ordered bond amount and are paid from estate funds. Sample pricing for qualified applicants:

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Executor, Administrator, or Trustee — Which Washington Probate Bond You Need

All three cover a fiduciary who manages estate or trust assets. Which one applies — and whether a bond is required at all — depends on how you were appointed:

Why Does the Washington Superior Court Require a Bond?

Probate in Washington is governed by Title 11 of the Revised Code of Washington. When a person dies, someone must be appointed to pay the estate's debts and distribute what remains to the rightful heirs. That personal representative controls assets that belong to other people, and the bond is the financial safeguard against mismanagement. Under RCW 11.28.185, a personal representative must give a bond or other security in the amount and with the sureties the Superior Court directs — unless an exception applies.

Washington recognizes three main exceptions. No bond is required when the will manifests the decedent's intent that none be furnished, when the personal representative is the surviving spouse or registered domestic partner entitled to the entire net estate, or when a qualified bank or trust company serves as personal representative. Outside those exceptions, courts commonly require a surety bond for administrators of intestate estates, for out-of-state personal representatives, and whenever an interested party requests protection.

If the personal representative mismanages the estate through fraud, negligence, self-dealing, or failure to follow the will or Washington law, heirs and creditors can recover against the bond. The surety pays valid claims up to the bond amount, and the personal representative must reimburse the surety in full — the bond protects the estate, not the representative.

How the Court Sets Your Bond Amount

You do not calculate your own bond amount, and you should not purchase a bond until the court gives you the figure. The Superior Court directs the amount under RCW 11.28.185 based on the value of the estate, and your court paperwork or the county clerk will confirm it. The court retains flexibility here: it may later require an additional bond if the estate proves larger than expected, reduce the bond on a proper showing, or accept substitute security.

Worth knowing about Washington specifically: the state's nonintervention powers system under RCW 11.68 lets a personal representative of a solvent estate administer it largely without ongoing court supervision — one reason Washington probate is often simpler than in other states. But nonintervention powers reduce oversight during administration; they do not by themselves eliminate the bond. Any bond the court requires must still be filed before letters are issued.

How To Get Your Washington Probate Bond

1. Get appointed and receive your bond amount. The Superior Court determines the estate value and directs the required bond amount under RCW 11.28.185 during the appointment process. Wait for this figure before purchasing — you may also learn an exception applies and no bond is needed.
2. Request your quote. Apply online or call with your court documentation. For most standard estates we can quote from the bond amount alone; larger or more complex estates may involve a review of the will or trust and the applicant's credit.
3. Complete the short application. Provide the personal representative's information and the estate details.
4. File your bond and receive your letters. We execute the bond with the surety's Power of Attorney attached so you can file it with the county clerk. The court then issues your letters testamentary or letters of administration, and you can begin settling the estate.

Bond Details at a Glance

• Bond Name: Washington Executor Bond / Washington Administrator Bond (Probate Bond)
• Also Known As: Personal representative bond, fiduciary bond, estate bond
• Bond Amount: Directed by the Superior Court based on the value of the estate (RCW 11.28.185)
• Starting Premium: $100 for a $10,000 bond; paid from estate funds
• Obligee: The Washington Superior Court and the estate's heirs and creditors
• Governing Law: Title 11 RCW — 11.28.185 (bond and exceptions), 11.68 (nonintervention administration)
• Exceptions: Will waives the bond; surviving spouse or registered domestic partner entitled to the entire net estate; bank or trust company serving as personal representative
• Administrators: Commonly required for intestate estates and out-of-state representatives
• Filed With: The county clerk of the Superior Court handling the estate
• Attorney Required: No

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Washington administrator or executor bond?
A probate bond required by a Washington Superior Court under RCW 11.28.185 before a personal representative can manage a deceased person's estate. It guarantees faithful performance and protects the estate's heirs and creditors.

Who is exempt from the bond requirement?
Three main exceptions: the will waives it, the personal representative is the surviving spouse or registered domestic partner entitled to the entire net estate, or a qualified bank or trust company serves. Outside those, courts commonly require the bond.

Do administrators need a bond in Washington?
Usually. With no will to waive it, courts commonly require a bond for administrators of intestate estates, for out-of-state representatives, and whenever an interested party requests protection.

How much does a Washington probate bond cost?
Premiums start at $100 for a $10,000 bond and scale with the court-ordered amount — $135 at $25,000, $260 at $50,000, $460 at $100,000, and up. The premium is paid from estate funds.

How is the bond amount determined?
The Superior Court directs it under RCW 11.28.185 based on the estate's value. The court provides the figure; you don't calculate it yourself, and the court can raise it, reduce it, or accept substitute security later.

Does nonintervention administration eliminate the bond?
No. RCW 11.68 nonintervention powers reduce court supervision during administration, but any bond the court requires must still be filed before letters are issued.

Do I need an attorney?
No. We can bond qualified applicants with or without an attorney, though many personal representatives choose to work with one for the estate itself.

What happens if a claim is filed against the bond?
The surety pays valid claims — from mismanagement, fraud, or failure to follow the will or Washington law — up to the bond amount, and the personal representative must reimburse the surety in full. The bond protects the estate, not the representative.

Washington Superior Court Directory

Probate in Washington is filed with the Superior Court in each of the state's 39 counties, and filings are handled by the County Clerk. Find your county below for the court's website, phone number, and mailing address.

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