Someone died in Washington. Start here.
The first 24 hours, in order, then the first week and the first month, with Washington's actual rules for death certificates, cremation, and probate. This page is free. No account required.
Sources: official Washington statutes and agencies, linked below. Last updated: October 2026.
Start with safety, the required local response, and the people who can help. The exact process depends on where and how the death occurred.
These figures come from the same data as our full Washington guide, built from state statutes and official agencies.
Death certificate
Filed within 5 days
The window runs from the death. The funeral provider or another authorized filer usually handles it. Ask each institution whether it needs a certified copy, then order an initial quantity based on those actual needs. Confirm the current fee with the issuing office; the guide's last-reviewed first-copy or search fee starts at $25. Additional-copy, vendor, and expedited fees may differ.
Source: RCW 70.58A.200 (reports of death); RCW 70.58A.530 (who may get a copy) (opens in a new tab)Cremation
No fixed statutory wait
Washington doesn’t set a fixed minimum wait in the source reviewed. Release, authorization, permit, death-record, or investigation requirements may still delay cremation. The person legally authorized under state law completes any required authorization; the provider handles its filing process.
Source: RCW 68.50.160 (right of disposition); RCW 70.58A.210 (burial-transit perm… (opens in a new tab)Probate
$100,000 listed amount
The amount alone doesn’t establish eligibility. Confirm which property counts, how it’s valued, the waiting period, ownership, any pending court case, and every other state condition.
Source: RCW 11.62.010 (Small Estate); RCW Title 11 (Probate) (opens in a new tab)Estate tax
Yes, this state has one
Washington's estate tax has state-specific exemptions, rates, filing rules, and responsible parties. Check the linked state tax authority.
Source 1: RCW ch. 83.100 (Washington Estate Tax); Washington DOR Estate Tax Tables (opens in a new tab)Source 2: IRS: 2026 estate tax basic exclusion amount (opens in a new tab)Days 2 to 7 · 1 to 7 days
These tasks often begin during the first week, but local requirements and the family's circumstances may change the order.
Weeks 2 to 4 · 1 to 4 weeks
The immediate calls may slow down. Estate, account, benefit, property, and tax work often continues for months.
The Long Game · 1 month+
Estate administration may take months or longer. The timing depends on the assets, claims, disputes, tax work, court schedule, and state procedure.
Have the death officially pronounced. For an expected hospice death, call the hospice nurse and follow the hospice instructions. For an unexpected death, call 911 and don’t move the body until you’re told you can. Then notify the closest people and, after the body is released, contact the funeral, cremation, burial, or donation provider the person chose.
In Washington, the death certificate must be filed within 5 days of the death. The funeral provider or another authorized filer usually handles it. Ask each institution whether it needs a certified copy, then order an initial quantity based on those actual needs.
Only qualified applicants get a certified death certificate: the spouse or domestic partner, a child, parent, stepparent, stepchild, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent or great-grandchild, a legal guardian, legal or authorized representative, next of kin, a government agency or court, or, within 12 months of the death, the funeral director or the person controlling disposition. Anyone can request a noncertified informational copy of the short form. Certified copies come from Washington's Center for Health Statistics, Washington State Department of Health; local health departments issue same-day copies.
$25 for a certified copy from the state office, per the fee page linked on this page. $25 for every copy with no discount for extras. The department’s web page says fees start at $25 because online, phone, expedited and walk-in routes add charges on top.
From Washington's Center for Health Statistics, Washington State Department of Health; local health departments issue same-day copies, in person at a local health department, online or by phone through VitalChek, or by mail with the order form. The official order page is linked on this page. The funeral home usually orders the first copies for you.
Washington doesn’t set a fixed minimum wait in the source reviewed. Release, authorization, permit, death-record, or investigation requirements may still delay cremation. The person legally authorized under state law completes any required authorization; the provider handles its filing process.
Washington's stated small-estate threshold is $100,000. Value alone doesn’t establish eligibility. Ownership, asset type, timing, beneficiaries, debts, and other state requirements can affect whether a simplified procedure is available.
Yes. Washington has a state estate tax. Exemptions, rates, filing rules, and responsible parties vary. Check the linked state tax authority. The federal basic exclusion amount is $15 million for deaths in 2026, and Form 706 may also be relevant for certain elections.
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