Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Washington

reopening Estate without a lawyer

Last Oct my mothers estate was closed.In Jan of this year a retirement account was found.I am no longer the ex of the estate due to closure.How do I petition the court to reopen the estate and get them to issue me a letter of administration without using a lawyer again.The amount is $20,000.I need step by step instructions.

Thank-you very much.


Asked on 4/28/04, 5:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bruce Busch Bruce R. Busch, Attorney at Law

Re: reopening Estate without a lawyer

Let me get this straight. You want step by step instructions from a lawyer, free of charge, at the lawyer's time and expense, in order to avoid attorney's fees in reopening an estate. Attorneys have spent hundreds to thousands of hours learning that process. Yes, you don't need a lawyer. But a lawyer's stock in trade is his knowledge. A lawyer would be put out of business if he simply gave away advice and instructions so that an individual could avoid that lawyer's fees. I suggest you either contact the court clerk (who will most likely send you to a lawyer) or CONSULT with an attorney FOR A FEE who can guide you through much of the process, thereby reducing his/her fees while fairly compensating him or her for what you will find to be valuable and time-saving information.

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Answered on 4/28/04, 8:37 pm


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