Q: My fathers will tells me to divide his cash between kids. He has no other assets. I'm in Washington.
Do I involve the courts?
A:
If there are no beneficiaries named on cash accounts and the accounts are in your Father's name alone at the time of his death, you will HAVE to involve the Courts in some way to make the distribution.
If there were beneficiaries on ALL the accounts or ALL of them were jointly owned, then maybe not, but there might be tax implications if things are not done properly. The ONLY way to be sure what to do is to consult with a local Estate planning and probate attorney to determine what needs to be done.
If the estate is small enough there might be some sort of expedited procedures but again -- consult with a local probate attorney. MANY offer free or low cost initial consultations and they can provide some real guidance at that appointment.
Good luck.
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