Chapter A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Jurisdiction: Washington

A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Introduction. The unpaid balance on notes and contracts payable to the decedent are assets of the estate. The mortgage, note, or other document should be obtained from the personal representative. If the document is not available through the personal representative, send a letter and request form (Letters 6.B.1 and 6.B.2) to the obligor to obtain a copy of the document and to verify the current status.

Cash on hand, including cash on person, in home, or in safe deposit box, and rare coins and currency are assets of the estate.

Uncashed checks payable to the decedent dated before the date of death are assets of the estate. Obtain a list of the checks from the personal representative.

Cash in financial organizations includes accounts with national banks, state banks, mutual savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and investment advisors. Accounts in the name of the decedent and another are assets of the estate to the extent of the decedent's interest at the time of death. Accounts in the name of the decedent only and accounts in the name of the surviving spouse/registered domestic partner only are presumed to be community property unless it can be shown that they are in fact the separate property of one spouse/registered domestic partner. Joint accounts and "In Trust For" (Totten Trust) accounts are also presumed to be community property unless known to be separate property. Joint accounts without right of survivorship are listed on the Inventory and Appraisement (see Chapter 3) while joint accounts with right of survivorship in the name of the decedent and another person who is living are listed as nonprobate assets. Information con-cerning cash in financial organizations should be obtained by sending a letter and request form (Letters 6.B.3 and 6.B.4) to the financial organizations where the accounts are held.

For form of Inventory and Appraisement, see Chapter 3, Examples.

2. Mortgages, Notes, and Contracts.

(a) Inventory and Appraisement Description. Mortgages, notes, and contracts should be identified by (i) title of the instrument, (ii) date of the instrument, (iii) names of obligor and obligee, (iv) property description, if any, (v) original principal amount, (vi) rate of interest, (vii) date to which interest was paid prior to the date of death, (viii) unpaid principal balance on the date of death, and (ix) interest accrued from date interest was last posted to the account to date of death. If a note is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other property, describe the security and list the recording...