Owning a vacation home or investment property in another state can expose your estate to ancillary probate — a separate court process required to transfer out-of-state real estate after death.

Owning a vacation home or investment property in another state can unintentionally expose your estate to ancillary probate — a separate, often costly court process required to transfer out-of-state real estate after death. Fortunately, several estate planning tools can help avoid this complication. Common strategies include placing the property into a Revocable Living Trust, which allows the asset to pass without probate across state lines, or holding title through an entity such as an LLC where appropriate. In some cases, using transfer-on-death deeds (available in many states) or ensuring proper joint ownership with survivorship rights may also streamline the transfer. Because probate and property laws vary by jurisdiction, careful coordination is essential. Proactive planning not only reduces administrative expenses and delays but also spares your loved ones from navigating multiple court system during an already difficult time.

If you own real estate outside the state where you live and have questions about ancillary probate avoidance tools and techniques, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment today. We represent clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via video conference.