Clark County Law Library offers small-estate affidavit self-help kits for sale

The Small Estate Affidavit process is an alternative to probate in some circumstances

VANCOUVER – The Clark County Law Library is selling a new self-help form kit. The Small Estate Affidavit process is an alternative to probate in some circumstances.  

The kit includes forms and instructions to transfer the personal property of a Washington resident who died without using probate. These are generally situations where there is no real estate and the value of the estate is less than $100,000.

Flowcharts help people decide if they are eligible to use the process, determine who is a “successor” for the procedure, understand the different types of property, and explain how to distribute the property.

“We are glad to be able to offer a resource that is so much more detailed and helpful than any material we have previously had access to,” said Law Librarian Maria Sosnowski. “Hopefully this kit will provide assistance after a death in what is typically a very stressful time.”

The kit can be purchased online, and the Law Library will then mail the kit to the purchaser.

Find information and a link to purchase on the Law Library self-help form kits web page at https://clark.wa.gov/law-library/self-help-form-kits.

Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.