When someone passes away, disputes over the distribution of assets may arise, straining relationships and leading to drawn out court proceedings. Washington adopted the Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA) in 2000, bringing significant changes to the way that dispute resolution procedures are handled for trusts and estates.
If you have a dispute regarding a trust or estate that you’re unable to resolve, you could file a TEDRA petition in Superior Court to reach a resolution in a timely and efficient manner without litigation. TEDRA is used to resolve a wide range of disputes relating to Wills, Trusts, and estates, such as:
* The construction and interpretation of Wills and Trusts;
* The competency of a decedent at the time of signing a Will;
* The validity or existence of a Will;
* Claims of a surviving spouse or child who is not provided for in a Will;
* Third-party claims against an estate;
* The validity of the transfer of assets prior to death; or
* Intestate succession without a Will.
TEDRA has given trusts and estates lawyers a clear framework for managing conflicts. TEDRA is intended to allow expeditious, complete, and final decisions to be made in disputed trust, estate, and non-probate matters. TEDRA provisions can help you resolve disputes through mediation, arbitration, and agreement.
If you are involved in a dispute over a trust or an estate, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see how we can help.