HB 2445 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Ending probates for profit.

HB 2445 amends Washington's probate code to limit profit-seeking in estate management. It requires applicants to document their search for heirs and assets, restricts appointment of for-profit service providers to two cases per year, and prohibits them from purchasing or profiting from estate assets. The bill also mandates bonds for certain appointees and caps compensation for non-family estate managers at court-approved rates. These changes primarily affect for-profit estate management companies and courts handling probate cases.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Bill → Passed Legislature · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Washington State probate laws to prevent 'probates for profit' by tightening rules on who can serve as an estate administrator and introducing strict regulations for 'heir finders.' It expands the list of ineligible administrators to include beneficiaries and their relatives, and adds a new section specifically targeting heir finders who take a percentage of an estate in exchange for locating heirs.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of prohibited individuals from acting as personal representatives to include beneficiaries and their domestic partners or relatives, and creates a new regulatory category for 'heir finders' who acquire partial ownership of an heir's interest.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the list of people disqualified from being personal representatives to include beneficiaries, their registered domestic partners, and anyone related by blood, marriage, or adoption to either the beneficiary or the decedent.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section defining 'heir finders' and requiring their agreements with heirs to be in writing, filed with the court, and include specific disclosures about fees and services.

Modified the requirements for purchasing a beneficiary's interest to require the agreement to be signed by both the beneficiary and the transferee for value, and added a requirement for bold type disclosure of costs.

ENFORCEMENT

Established court powers to void unfair heir finder agreements, refuse distributions based on unreasonable fees, and order heir finders to pay up to three times the value of their share for willful violations.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'interested person' in the legal glossary to include 'beneficiary' alongside heirs, devisees, and legatees.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

49–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 51

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican20

19 Yea 1

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 24, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 66; nays, 29; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Amended

Committee amendment not adopted.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

CRJ - Majority; do pass.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor