Washington Revised Code Title 11. Probate and Trust Law § 11.28.340. Order of adjudication of testacy or intestacy and heirship--Entry--Time limitation--Deemed final decree of distribution, when--Purpose--Finality of adjudications

(1) Establishing the decedent's will as his or her last will and testament and persons entitled to receive his or her estate thereunder; or

(2) Establishing the fact that the decedent died intestate, and those persons entitled to receive his or her estate as his or her heirs at law.

The right of an heir, legatee, or devisee to receive the assets of a decedent shall, to the extent otherwise provided by this title, be subject to the prior rights of the decedent's creditors and of any persons entitled to a homestead award or award in lieu of homestead or family allowance, and nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to alter or diminish such prior rights, or to prohibit any person for good cause shown, from obtaining the appointment of a personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent after the entry of an order adjudicating testacy or intestacy and heirship. However, if the petition for letters testamentary or of administration shall be filed more than four months after the date of the adjudication of testacy or of intestacy and heirship, the issuance of such letters shall not affect the finality of said adjudications.

Four months after providing all notices as required in RCW 11.28.330, any person paying, delivering, transferring, or issuing property to the person entitled thereto under an adjudication of testacy or intestacy and heirship that is deemed the equivalent of a final decree of distribution as set forth in this section is discharged and released to the same extent as if such person has dealt with a personal representative of the decedent.