Mom died without will. No probate. I'm sole heir and i need to transfer her stocks. Bank wants proof I am the sole heir? ???

If your mother owned less than $100,000 in assets and owned no real property, you can use the small estate affidavit procedure to provide the necessary information to the bank and other financial institutions in order to get the assets transferred. It would be a good idea to consult an attorney about your situation and to obtain assistance with the small estate affidavit procedure.

Washington has a "short form" probate that may be appropriate for your situation. There are excellent probate attorneys near you who'd be happy to help you with this. Hope you go hire one. Elizabeth Powell

Using the small estate affidavit may be your best option but you may also ask if the financial institution will accept an heirship affidavit from someone who is not interested in your mother's estate. That may also work and keep you out of probate. You should check with an attorney to help you with the process. DISCLAIMERS. Mr. Connor is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. He may be reached by phone at 512.477.2141, by email at [email protected], or through his website at www.jonconnorlaw.com. The responses provided in this comment are not legal advice, do not create an attorney-client relationship and may vary depending on the jurisdiction of the matter. This site should not be used as a substitute for legal advice. These responses are for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as anything other than general information. Seeking the advice of an attorney is strongly encouraged. Any information in this comment may not be used to eliminate or reduce penalties by the IRS or any other governmental agency.

Washington allows for the transfer of assets of a deceased person through an affidavit process as long as their entire estate consists of less than $100,000 and they owned no real estate at the time of their death. An attorney can assist you in completing the affidavit and let you know whether this is the best option for you. Otherwise, you can open up an intestate probate that will provide you with letters of administration which the bank will accept. I would recommend that you check wit the bank first to see if they will accept a valid affidavit as some do not and you don't want to waste money trying to avoid probate only to have to go through it anyway.