Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Washington

Re: personal representative vs trustee

A Personal Representative is the person who handles administration of an intestate probate. They are usually self selected, have to not be felons, and can be granted non intervention powers and sometimes are required to post a bond in order to function.

A trustee is a broader concept than probate; one is the trustee of a trust granted a the grantor (sometimes that is the same person).

Trustees look after what they have been entrusted with, but unless or until they are nominated as PR and the principal dies, they are just trustees.

Hope that clears it right up for you!

Elizabeth Powell