Award to surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children — Petition.
RCW 11.54.010
in effect(1) Any one or more of a decedent's surviving spouse, surviving registered domestic partner, and dependent children may commence a judicial proceeding under chapter 11.96A RCW for an award from the decedent's separate property and from the community property of the decedent and the decedent's spouse or registered domestic partner that are exempt from attachment, execution, and forced sale under RCW 11.54.008 . The petition must: (a) Set forth facts to establish that the claimant is entitled to an award under this chapter; (b) State the nature and value of those assets held by all potential claimants that are exempt from the claims of creditors and that are known to the claimant or could be known to the claimant with reasonable diligence; and (c) Describe all other assets then held by the claimants, including any interest the claimants may have in any of the decedent's probate or nonprobate property. (2) If a claimant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that an award of property exempt from the claims of creditors to the claimant would fulfill one or more of the purposes of this chapter, the court may grant the claimant an award that the court determines to be equitable. (3) If the decedent is survived by one or more dependent children, the court may divide the award between the surviving spouse or surviving registered domestic partner and all or any of the decedent's surviving dependent children as the court deems appropriate. (4) The awards under this chapter may be made either from the community property of the decedent and the decedent's spouse or registered domestic partner or from the separate property of the decedent. (5) Any and all homestead or other property exempt from attachment, execution, and forced sale under Title 6 RCW immediately before the decedent's death shall be included in the basic award. (6) The basic award may be made whether or not any proceedings have been commenced under this title relating to the decedent's probate or nonprobate assets.
(1) Any one or more of a decedent's surviving spouse, surviving registered domestic partner, and dependent children may commence a judicial proceeding under chapter 11.96A RCW for an award from the decedent's separate property and from the community property of the decedent and the decedent's spouse or registered domestic partner that are exempt from attachment, execution, and forced sale under RCW 11.54.008 . The petition must:
(a) Set forth facts to establish that the claimant is entitled to an award under this chapter;
(b) State the nature and value of those assets held by all potential claimants that are exempt from the claims of creditors and that are known to the claimant or could be known to the claimant with reasonable diligence; and
(c) Describe all other assets then held by the claimants, including any interest the claimants may have in any of the decedent's probate or nonprobate property.
(2) If a claimant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that an award of property exempt from the claims of creditors to the claimant would fulfill one or more of the purposes of this chapter, the court may grant the claimant an award that the court determines to be equitable.
(3) If the decedent is survived by one or more dependent children, the court may divide the award between the surviving spouse or surviving registered domestic partner and all or any of the decedent's surviving dependent children as the court deems appropriate.
(4) The awards under this chapter may be made either from the community property of the decedent and the decedent's spouse or registered domestic partner or from the separate property of the decedent.
(5) Any and all homestead or other property exempt from attachment, execution, and forced sale under Title 6 RCW immediately before the decedent's death shall be included in the basic award.
(6) The basic award may be made whether or not any proceedings have been commenced under this title relating to the decedent's probate or nonprobate assets.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.54&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026