Washington Form PRO 07 is the Declaration of Completion of Probate that a personal representative (PR) files in the Washington Superior Court to formally close a probate estate, distribute remaining assets, and end the PR’s authority under RCW 11.68.110. The form tells the court that creditors have been paid, taxes are settled, heirs and beneficiaries have received their shares, and no further court supervision is needed.
Filing PRO 07 wrong — or skipping it — can keep an estate open for years, expose the PR to personal liability, and trigger objections from heirs that force a full court hearing. According to the Washington Courts caseload reports, Washington Superior Courts process tens of thousands of probate filings each year, and clerks reject a meaningful share of closing declarations for missing signatures, missing notice, or wrong case captions.
In this guide, you will learn:
- 📜 What PRO 07 is, who must file it, and the statutes that govern it
- 🗂️ Every document and number you must gather before opening the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every field, box, and signature block
- 👨👩👧 Three full real-world scenarios with named filers and sample entries
- ⚖️ The mistakes, deadlines, and consequences that trip up most pro se PRs
What Form PRO 07 Is and Who Must File It
PRO 07 is the closing document in a Washington nonintervention probate. The form is published statewide on the Washington Courts forms library and is also distributed by county Superior Courts such as King County and Pierce County. The current version most filers use is the revision dated 2023; always confirm the revision date printed in the lower-left corner of the form before filing.
Any personal representative who was granted nonintervention powers under RCW 11.68.011 and who has finished the work of the estate must file a Declaration of Completion. That includes a named executor under a will, an administrator appointed in an intestate estate, and a successor PR who took over after the first PR resigned or died. The PR signs under penalty of perjury, which means a false statement on PRO 07 can lead to perjury charges under RCW 9A.72.020.
Heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors do not file PRO 07. They receive a copy by mail and have 30 days to object before the estate closes automatically. The form is not used in a Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA) action, in a small-estate affidavit under RCW 11.62, or in a probate that the court has placed under full supervision.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every piece of paperwork before you open the form. Pulling numbers from memory is the fastest way to file a defective declaration.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. You need the issuance date and the case number. Without these, the caption is wrong and the clerk will reject the filing.
- The decedent’s death certificate. You will repeat the date of death exactly as printed; a one-day error voids the creditor-claim cutoff calculation.
- The Order Appointing Personal Representative. Confirms your authority and whether you have nonintervention powers. PRO 07 only works for nonintervention estates.
- Affidavit of Publication. Issued by the newspaper that ran the notice to creditors under RCW 11.40.020. Without it, the four-month creditor window cannot be proven.
- Inventory and Appraisement. The list of estate assets you filed or kept under RCW 11.44.015. PRO 07 references the gross estate value.
- Final accounting or distribution schedule. A line-by-line ledger of receipts, expenses, and distributions. Heirs may demand it within 30 days.
- Receipts from each beneficiary. Signed proof that each heir received their share. Missing receipts let an heir object and reopen the estate.
- Federal estate tax closing letter (if applicable). From the IRS Estate Tax page when the estate exceeded the federal exemption. Without it, the IRS can still assert a claim.
- Washington estate tax release. From the Department of Revenue estate tax unit if the estate exceeded the Washington threshold of $2.193 million.
- Mailing addresses for every heir, beneficiary, and unpaid creditor. Required for the Declaration of Mailing that goes with PRO 07.
If any item is missing, stop and fix the gap first. The court will not save you from a defective closing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official statewide PDF lives on the Washington Courts forms page under the Probate category. You can also pull the form from your county’s local rules page, such as Snohomish County Superior Court or Spokane County Superior Court. Counties sometimes layer a local cover sheet on top of the statewide form, so check local rules before printing.
The form is fillable in Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download from the Adobe Reader page. Type your answers directly into the fields rather than handwriting them. Typed forms reduce clerk rejections by a wide margin and read correctly when scanned into the Washington Courts e-filing system.
If you e-file, you will use the Washington Courts eFiling portal. Counties such as King and Pierce route through their own portals, including the King County eFiling system. Save the blank PDF, fill it, then upload it as a flattened file so checkboxes do not reset on the clerk’s screen.
Paper filers can pick up the form at any Superior Court clerk’s office. Bring two copies — one for the court and one stamped copy for your records. The clerk will not photocopy the form for you.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Washington Form PRO 07 Line by Line
The form is short on its face but every box carries weight. Work top to bottom and do not skip fields, even ones that look optional.
Caption: Court Name and County
The top of PRO 07 asks for the Superior Court of the State of Washington and the county where the probate was opened.
This is the heading that tells the clerk where the file lives. Type the county name in all caps, exactly as it appears on your Letters Testamentary, for example KING or PIERCE. The court name reads SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF KING.
A specific example: Maria Lopez, PR of her father’s estate in King County, types SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF KING. She matches the caption on every prior filing in the case.
A common nuance is venue change. If the probate was transferred between counties under RCW 11.96A.050, use the current county, not the original.
The most common mistake is typing the wrong county because the PR moved during the probate. The consequence is a clerk rejection and a re-filing fee, and creditors may argue the four-month window restarts.
A misconception is that the caption can read “Superior Court of Washington, King County” in casual order. It cannot — the official caption is fixed by General Rule 14 and must match prior filings letter for letter.
Estate of [Decedent’s Full Legal Name]
This field identifies whose probate is closing.
Enter the decedent’s full legal name as it appears on the death certificate, in the format Estate of JOHN ROBERT SMITH, Deceased. Do not use nicknames, married-name shortcuts, or initials.
For example, Carlos Rivera writes Estate of ELENA MARIA RIVERA, Deceased because her death certificate spells her middle name in full.
A nuance is name changes. If the decedent legally changed their name before death, use the most recent legal name from the death certificate and add an “aka” line below for the prior name.
The most common mistake is dropping the middle name to save space. The consequence is that the asset transfer paperwork at banks and the county recorder may not match, leaving title clouded on real property.
A misconception is that the case caption can use a maiden name. It cannot unless the maiden name is on the death certificate or a court order changed the case caption earlier.
Case Number / No.
This is the unique identifier the clerk assigned when the probate opened.
Type the number exactly as printed on your Letters Testamentary, including the hyphens and the four-digit format used in your county, for example 24-4-01234-5 KNT.
For example, Janet Park enters 25-4-00876-3 SEA because King County uses the SEA suffix for Seattle-filed probate cases.
A nuance is consolidated cases. If the probate was consolidated with a TEDRA action, use the probate case number, not the TEDRA number.
The most common mistake is dropping the location code suffix (SEA, KNT, RJC). The consequence is the e-filing system routes the document to the wrong courthouse, delaying entry by days.
A misconception is that the case number is optional once the parties know each other. It is not; the clerk’s docketing software cannot file the document without an exact match.
Paragraph 1: Identification of Personal Representative
Paragraph 1 names the PR and confirms the date Letters were issued.
Enter your full legal name, your role (Personal Representative, Executor, or Administrator), and the date Letters were issued in MM/DD/YYYY format. Sample: I, MARIA LOPEZ, am the Personal Representative of this estate. Letters Testamentary were issued to me on 03/14/2024.
A nuance is co-PRs. If two PRs serve, both names go on this line and both must sign at the end.
The most common mistake is using the issuance date of the Order Appointing PR instead of the Letters issuance date. They are usually the same day but not always; if they differ, the Letters date controls under RCW 11.28.170.
A misconception is that a successor PR uses the original PR’s issuance date. A successor uses the date their own Letters were issued.
Paragraph 2: Nonintervention Powers Statement
Paragraph 2 confirms the court granted nonintervention powers.
Check the box stating that the court entered an Order of Solvency and granted nonintervention powers under RCW 11.68.011. Add the date of the order in MM/DD/YYYY format.
For example, Marcus Chen checks the box and types 03/14/2024 because the order was entered the same day Letters issued.
A nuance is partial nonintervention. Some orders limit powers (for example, real estate sales require court approval). If your powers are limited, note the limitation in the margin or on a separate sheet.
The most common mistake is filing PRO 07 in a supervised probate. The consequence is automatic rejection — supervised estates close by court order, not by declaration.
A misconception is that nonintervention powers extend automatically to a successor PR. They do not; the successor must petition for their own nonintervention order.
Paragraph 3: Notice to Creditors
Paragraph 3 declares that notice to creditors was published and mailed.
State the newspaper of general circulation, the first publication date, and confirm that notice was mailed to known creditors under RCW 11.40.020. Sample entry: Notice to Creditors was first published in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce on 03/21/2024.
For example, Aisha Brown writes The Tacoma News Tribune, first published 04/02/2024 and attaches the Affidavit of Publication.
A nuance is the four-month bar. The creditor window runs four months from first publication or 30 days from direct mailing, whichever is later. PRO 07 cannot be filed until that window has closed.
The most common mistake is publishing in a paper that is not a “newspaper of general circulation” under RCW 65.16.020. The consequence is the creditor bar never starts, and a late creditor claim can reopen the estate.
A misconception is that a free shopper paper counts. It usually does not; the paper must meet statutory circulation and publication requirements.
Paragraph 4: Statement of Distribution
Paragraph 4 declares that all assets have been distributed.
Confirm that you have paid all expenses, taxes, and creditor claims, and distributed the remaining assets to the heirs or beneficiaries. Sample: All debts, expenses, and taxes of the estate have been paid, and all remaining assets have been distributed to the persons entitled to them.
For example, Janet Park writes the same sentence and attaches a one-page distribution schedule listing each heir, the asset, and the dollar value.
A nuance is partial distribution. If one asset (for example, a contested vehicle title) is still pending, you cannot file PRO 07 yet. File a Declaration of Partial Completion or wait.
The most common mistake is filing while a tax return is still open with the IRS or Washington Department of Revenue. The consequence is personal liability for the PR if the agency later assesses tax.
A misconception is that “distributed” means transferred to a trust the PR controls. The assets must reach the named beneficiary, not a holding account.
Paragraph 5: Fees Paid to PR and Attorney
Paragraph 5 lists fees paid to the PR and to the estate’s attorney.
Enter the dollar amount paid to the PR and to the attorney, in the format $X,XXX.XX. Sample: Personal Representative fees paid: $4,500.00. Attorney fees paid: $7,200.00.
For example, Carlos Rivera enters $3,000.00 for himself and $5,400.00 for his attorney based on hourly billing under RCW 11.48.210.
A nuance is reasonableness. Fees must be reasonable. An heir has 30 days to object, and the court can claw back fees deemed excessive.
The most common mistake is leaving the fee field blank when fees were paid. The consequence is the heirs can claim the PR hid compensation, which voids the closing.
A misconception is that PR fees are automatic. They are not; they must be reasonable and disclosed, even when the will authorizes them.
Paragraph 6: Request for Discharge
Paragraph 6 asks the court to discharge the PR and close the estate.
Check the box requesting discharge upon the expiration of 30 days after filing, with no further court action required, under RCW 11.68.110.
For example, Maria Lopez checks the discharge box and signs below.
A nuance is heir waiver. If every heir signs a written waiver, the 30-day window can be shortened to immediate discharge. Attach the waivers to PRO 07.
The most common mistake is not checking the discharge box at all. The consequence is the estate stays technically open and the PR remains liable for ongoing duties.
A misconception is that discharge wipes out future liability. It does not protect against fraud or undisclosed assets discovered later.
Signature Block and Verification
The signature block converts the form into a sworn declaration.
Sign and date in MM/DD/YYYY format under the GR 13 declaration language (“I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct”). Print your name, address, and phone number below the signature.
For example, Aisha Brown signs Aisha M. Brown, dates it 07/15/2024, and prints her Tacoma address.
A nuance is electronic signatures. The Washington Courts e-filing system accepts a /s/ typed signature under GR 30, formatted as /s/ Aisha M. Brown.
The most common mistake is signing without the perjury language above the signature. The consequence is the declaration is not a sworn statement and has no legal effect.
A misconception is that a notary is required. PRO 07 uses a GR 13 declaration, which replaces notarization for Washington state filings.
Declaration of Mailing (Companion Document)
PRO 07 must be mailed to every heir, beneficiary, and unpaid creditor. The Declaration of Mailing proves you did it.
List each recipient’s name and address, the date you mailed the form, and the method (first-class mail with proof, or certified mail). Sample: On 07/15/2024, I mailed a true copy of the Declaration of Completion to John Smith, 123 Main St, Seattle, WA 98101, by first-class mail, postage prepaid.
For example, Marcus Chen lists three siblings and one credit-card creditor, all mailed the same day.
A nuance is foreign addresses. International heirs require international first-class mail with tracking; the 30-day clock runs from the date of mailing, not delivery.
The most common mistake is forgetting an unpaid creditor whose claim was timely filed. The consequence is the creditor’s claim survives the closing and the PR can be sued personally.
A misconception is that email service counts. It does not unless every recipient agreed in writing under GR 30.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named filers represent the fact patterns that drive most Washington probate closings.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Solvent Estate, Will, Single Executor (King County)
Maria’s father died in Seattle leaving a will, a paid-off house, and three adult children as equal beneficiaries.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Court / County | SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF KING |
| Estate of | Estate of ROBERT JAMES LOPEZ, Deceased |
| Case No. | 24-4-01234-5 SEA |
| Paragraph 1 (PR identity) | MARIA LOPEZ, Personal Representative; Letters issued 03/14/2024 |
| Paragraph 3 (publication) | Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, first published 03/21/2024 |
| Paragraph 5 (fees) | PR: $4,500.00; Attorney: $7,200.00 |
| Paragraph 6 (discharge) | Box checked; 30-day discharge requested |
| Signature | /s/ Maria E. Lopez, 07/22/2024 |
Scenario 2: Carlos Rivera — Intestate Estate, Surviving Spouse as Administrator (Pierce County)
Carlos’s wife Elena died without a will. He serves as administrator and is the sole heir under RCW 11.04.015.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Court / County | SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF PIERCE |
| Estate of | Estate of ELENA MARIA RIVERA, Deceased |
| Case No. | 24-4-00987-1 |
| Paragraph 1 (PR identity) | CARLOS RIVERA, Administrator; Letters issued 04/02/2024 |
| Paragraph 3 (publication) | Tacoma News Tribune, first published 04/05/2024 |
| Paragraph 4 (distribution) | All community and separate property distributed to surviving spouse |
| Paragraph 5 (fees) | PR: $3,000.00; Attorney: $5,400.00 |
| Signature | /s/ Carlos M. Rivera, 08/12/2024 |
Scenario 3: Janet Park — Long Marriage, Contested Creditor Claim Resolved (Spokane County)
Janet’s husband died after a 22-year marriage. A medical creditor filed a timely claim that Janet negotiated down before closing.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Court / County | SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF SPOKANE |
| Estate of | Estate of DAVID HENRY PARK, Deceased |
| Case No. | 24-4-00456-7 |
| Paragraph 1 (PR identity) | JANET S. PARK, Personal Representative; Letters issued 02/10/2024 |
| Paragraph 3 (publication) | Spokesman-Review, first published 02/15/2024 |
| Paragraph 4 (distribution) | Medical creditor paid $8,200.00 in settlement; remainder to spouse and two adult children |
| Paragraph 5 (fees) | PR: $5,000.00; Attorney: $9,800.00 |
| Paragraph 6 (discharge) | Box checked; heir waivers attached for immediate discharge |
| Signature | /s/ Janet S. Park, 06/30/2024 |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file PRO 07 three ways in Washington, and each channel has its own quirks.
E-filing through the Washington Courts portal. Most counties accept e-filing through the Washington Courts eFiling portal or a county portal such as the King County Clerk e-filing page. The filing fee for a Declaration of Completion is typically $20 in counties that charge it; some waive the fee. Pay by credit or debit card. Processing usually takes one to three business days. Save the filed-stamped PDF and the e-filing receipt as proof of filing.
Filing in person at the county clerk’s office. Bring the original PRO 07, the Declaration of Mailing, and any heir waivers. The clerk’s office addresses are listed on each Superior Court page, such as the King County Superior Court clerk page. Pay by cash, check, or card depending on the county. The clerk stamps your copy on the spot — keep that copy in your estate binder.
Filing by mail. Mail the original and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the county clerk. Include a check for the filing fee made out to “[County] Superior Court Clerk.” Allow seven to ten business days for the clerk to docket the filing and return your stamped copy. Mail filing is the slowest but acceptable proof option.
Whichever channel you use, mail the filed copy to every heir, beneficiary, and unpaid creditor on the same day.
What Happens After You File
The 30-day clock starts the day the clerk dockets PRO 07. During that window, any heir, beneficiary, or creditor may petition the court to challenge the closing under RCW 11.68.110. Common challenges include claims of inadequate accounting, excessive fees, or undisclosed assets.
If no one objects within 30 days, the PR is automatically discharged and the estate closes by operation of law. No further court order is required. The PR’s bond, if any, is released, and the PR’s authority to act for the estate ends.
If an heir objects, the court schedules a hearing. The PR must be ready to produce a full accounting, receipts, and proof of mailing. The court can order a partial discharge, additional distribution, or fee reduction.
If undisclosed assets surface after closing, any interested person can petition to reopen the estate. The reopened estate uses the original case number and the original PR — or a successor — must distribute the new asset.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
These are the errors clerks and judges flag most often.
- Filing PRO 07 before the four-month creditor window expires, which voids the creditor bar and exposes the PR personally.
- Using the wrong county caption after a venue change, which causes clerk rejection and forces a re-filing fee.
- Listing a nickname instead of the legal name from the death certificate, which clouds title on transferred real property.
- Forgetting the location suffix on the case number (SEA, KNT, TAC), which routes the e-filing to the wrong courthouse.
- Filing in a supervised probate, which the clerk rejects because supervised estates close by court order.
- Leaving the PR fee or attorney fee field blank when fees were actually paid, which heirs can later attack as concealment.
- Skipping the Declaration of Mailing, which makes the 30-day discharge clock invalid and keeps the estate open.
- Mailing only to heirs and forgetting unpaid creditors with timely claims, which lets those creditors sue the PR personally.
- Signing without the GR 13 perjury language above the signature, which renders the declaration legally meaningless.
- Filing while a federal or Washington estate tax matter is still open, which exposes the PR to personal tax liability under RCW 83.100.120.
- Using a free shopper paper for publication, which fails RCW 65.16 and never starts the creditor bar.
- Forgetting to attach heir waivers when seeking immediate discharge, which forces the court to default to the 30-day waiting period.
Do’s and Don’ts
Follow these rules to file a clean closing.
- Do confirm the form revision date in the lower-left corner — older versions can be rejected.
- Do match the case caption letter-for-letter to prior filings to keep the clerk’s docketing software happy.
- Do keep an estate binder with originals of every document referenced in PRO 07 for at least seven years.
- Do mail the filed copy to every interested party the same day you file with the court.
- Do check whether your county requires a local cover sheet by reviewing local rules on the Washington Courts local rules page.
- Do wait until the IRS and Washington Department of Revenue have closed any open tax matters before filing.
- Don’t file PRO 07 in a supervised estate — it has no legal effect there.
- Don’t use a P.O. Box for any heir’s mailing address if you have a physical address available; physical addresses survive challenge better.
- Don’t estimate fees — list the exact dollars actually paid.
- Don’t sign on behalf of a co-PR; each PR must sign personally.
- Don’t skip the Affidavit of Publication just because publication is “obvious.”
- Don’t treat email service as sufficient unless every recipient agreed in writing.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most Washington probates close pro se, but the choice has real trade-offs.
Pros of filing pro se:
- You save attorney fees, which can run $200 to $400 per hour, often totaling $5,000 or more.
- You control the timing and do not wait on a busy attorney’s calendar.
- The form is short and the statute is plain, so a careful PR can complete it.
- You learn the estate inside and out, which helps if questions come up later.
- Free help is available from the Northwest Justice Project and county law libraries.
Cons of filing pro se:
- One mistake on creditor notice can void the bar and reopen liability for years.
- Fee disclosure rules trip up PRs who paid themselves informally.
- Tax issues with the IRS and Department of Revenue are easy to misjudge.
- Heir disputes turn fast, and a pro se PR can be outmatched in court.
- Title companies sometimes refuse to insure property transferred under a defective closing.
FAQs
Do I have to use the statewide PRO 07 form, or can I draft my own declaration?
Yes, you can draft your own under RCW 11.68.110, but most filers use the statewide form because clerks recognize it and it covers every required statement.
How long do heirs have to object after I file PRO 07?
Yes, heirs and beneficiaries have 30 days from the filing date to petition the court, after which the PR is automatically discharged.
Can I file PRO 07 in a supervised probate?
No, supervised estates close by court order, not by declaration, so PRO 07 has no legal effect in those cases.
Do I need a notary on PRO 07?
No, the form uses a GR 13 declaration under penalty of perjury, which replaces notarization for Washington state filings.
What if I forget an heir on the Declaration of Mailing?
No, you cannot ignore the omission — the 30-day clock does not run as to that heir, and you must re-file and re-mail to that person.
Do I list the gross or net estate value on PRO 07?
No, PRO 07 itself does not require a value field, but the inventory under RCW 11.44.015 lists the gross value.
Can I check the discharge box if I am a co-PR and my co-PR has died?
Yes, the surviving PR can request discharge, but you must attach a death certificate for the deceased co-PR and reference it in Paragraph 1.
Do I write my full middle name in Paragraph 1 or can I use an initial?
Yes, write your full legal name as it appears on Letters Testamentary; using only an initial can create a mismatch that delays clerk acceptance.
Can I file PRO 07 if a creditor’s claim is still being negotiated?
No, you must resolve every timely creditor claim before filing, or the closing is defective and creditors can reopen the estate.
Do I have to publish notice to creditors before I can file PRO 07?
Yes, publication under RCW 11.40.020 is the trigger that starts the four-month bar, and you cannot close without it.
Can I e-file PRO 07 in every Washington county?
Yes, every county accepts e-filing through the Washington Courts portal or its own portal, though a few small counties still prefer paper for closings.
Do I need to file a final accounting with PRO 07?
No, a formal accounting is not required in a nonintervention probate unless an heir requests one within 30 days of receiving the declaration.
Can the court reject PRO 07 after I file it?
Yes, the clerk can reject for caption errors, missing signatures, or missing companion documents, and the PR must correct and re-file.
Do I keep filing my own taxes as PR after PRO 07 is accepted?
No, your PR duties end at discharge, but you must still file the estate’s final Form 1041 with the IRS for the year the estate closed.
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