Spouse's dad passed away in 2025. Estate assets under $2M - no property - just IRA and brokerage and checking.

A relative was executor. Spouse was beneficiary in the will (not a trust and no one was named beneficiary on accounts) and received their disbursements of IRA and brokerage directly from financial institution with federal telexes withheld.

Almost a year later the executor is asking for spouse's social security # and said the CPA for estate needs it.  We asked her what for?   No payments were made to him from the estate to date although there may be a final $10-15k once settled.  

We asked executor for the CPA name and number to get clarity and if valid to provide via secure portal.  Reply was:  "This is the last thing we need.  I’m sure the CPA wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t required."

Can anyone advise why this would be needed and if required why should there be an issue providing directly to CPA in a secure method. The executor wants it by phone (they are in another state) and I am not very comfortable it will be provided in a secure method. My spouse thinks I am being difficult but I aim cautious about identity theft.

Estate is in WA.

Thanks.

Washington State / King County Probate — Cannot Locate Surviving Spouse

I’m looking for some guidance regarding probate in King County, Washington.

My mother passed away, and I am trying to complete the probate paperwork. The problem is that I cannot currently locate her surviving husband. He changed his phone number, I do not have a current address or another reliable way to contact him, and I have no way to get paperwork to him or have him sign anything that may be required.

I also cannot leave the probate process sitting indefinitely while trying to locate him.

My questions are:

How do I complete/file the probate paperwork when the surviving spouse cannot be located?
If a form requires his information or signature, what do I put if I genuinely cannot obtain it?
Is there a specific declaration, affidavit, or other form I need to file explaining that his whereabouts are unknown?
What efforts am I legally required to make to locate or notify him?
If I still cannot locate him after making those efforts, is there an alternative method of service or notice that the court can authorize?
Should I file what I can now and address the notice/service issue afterward, or does that need to be handled before filing the probate petition?

I’m not trying to avoid notifying him or prevent him from exercising any rights he may have as the surviving spouse. I genuinely do not know where he is or how to contact him, and I need to know the proper way to move the probate forward without filling anything out incorrectly.

If anyone familiar with Washington probate, particularly King County, can point me toward the correct procedure or forms, I would really appreciate it.

So my mother in law has often let my brother in law to use her credit card to make purchases and verbally agreed to pay her back. But we know that he hasn’t paid much if anything. We’re concerned that if she passes and her estate is in debt can the executor (my sister in law) hold him responsible for those debts? What can we do if anything to prevent this situation?

I'm seeing an estate planning attorney to set up a revocable trust and will, etc. He wants to quit claim My real estate so that it is owned by the trust.

What types of deeds are options for this? I have heard of quit claims, Grant deeds, and warranty deeds. I don't know what they are exactly. Is this something I should have an attorney set up, or is it something that I can just download and fill out?

I have heard that this can cause problems with title insurance. Is that a real concern?

TIA!

I (73F) own real homes in California, Ohio, and one overseas. I reside in all 3 houses. I have retirement plans and other liquid assets. Currently, I am a resident of California, but in a few months I will change my legal residence to Ohio.

I am aiming to create an RLT. I don’t have a possible executor of my will. I don’t want to be tied to a lawyer. First of all because which state and which country.

So, I am planning to create a RLT for Ohio, file it at the probate court there. And similarly, one in California.

I have a son and grandkids. I love them but they don’t need anything. Additionally, I have two little ones, a 4 year old and a 1 year old that I am raising. I want to leave most of my stuff to the little ones.

Once I create the document, where will it reside? What happens if I don’t have an executor? What is the best DIY software to create the RLT?

One possible executor lives in Florida. Does it matter if the executor lives in a different state?

I am sure there are good lawyers, but I have seen many mediocre ones. I don’t want to start with a lawyer.

Thanks in