Consumer Law

Free Tools and Information for Consumers

Washington Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Washington PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for King County: Key information about your local probate court ( Court in Washington) for King County.
• How Probate Works in Washington: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at King County's probate court.
  • Here are links to:
    • Washington Probate Forms and the
    • Washington State Probate Court Website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Washington: Learn how to use Washington's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • For property that did not have a beneficiary designation or was not in a living trust, there may be "simplified probate" procedures or "small estate affidavit" procedures in Washington for transferring certain kinds of property at death, which can avoid the cost and time of a full-blown court-supervised probate proceeding.

     

• Washington Estate Taxes:

  • Washington, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.

• Avoiding Probate in Washington. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Washington Wage & Hour Law

• Washington Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Washington is the same as the federal minimum wage: $7.25 an hour. 

    King County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in King County is $7.25 an hour, the state minimum wage. However, cities and counties in Washington are free to adopt their own higher minimum wage, and dozens of cities and counties across the country have done so. To find out whether King County has passed its own minimum wage law since we last updated, visit https://kingcounty.gov/.

    Seattle Minimum Wage

    The current minimum wage in Seattle is $19.97 an hour, if you work for an employer with more than 500 employees. If you work for an employee with 500 or fewer employees, the minimum wage depends on whether your employer pays at least $1.52 per hour towards your medical benefits. If so, the minimum wage is $17.25 an hour. If not, the minimum wage is $19.97 an hour.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Washington and whether they apply to you.
• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Washington. 
• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Washington.

  • In Washington, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
  • for King County, Washington (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
• Washington BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Washington law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
  • Federal Exemptions available in Washington?:  

    • Although the federal bankruptcy code provides a list of exemptions, these exemptions are not available in Washington. Washington law requires you to use the exemptions found in state law -- not the U.S. bankruptcy code.

  • Washington Homestead Exemption
  • Washington Vehicle Exemption
• Washington BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Washington Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Washington: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
  • Maximum: 
  • Duration: 

    • In Washington, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Washington.
  •  
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
• COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.

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Democracy In Washington, King County, Seattle 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in .
  • Key Links:
    • Check Your Washington Voter Registration Status:
• Gerrymandering in Washington: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 
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Find a Lawyer in

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid
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