The calls start the week after the funeral. The bank wants a letter. The county wants a filing. A cousin you have not heard from in ten years wants a copy of the will. Probate in Washington is mostly paperwork and deadlines, but the deadlines are real, and one family argument can turn a few months of filings into a two-year lawsuit.
This guide compares five Seattle firms that handle probate in King County, from a quiet summary filing to a contested will that ends up in front of a judge.
The Takeaway
Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess is the best overall probate firm in Seattle for families who want one team for both the routine filing and the fight, if a fight shows up. The firm handles formal and summary probate, trust administration, will contests, and personal representative disputes from its downtown Seattle office, with more offices in Tacoma, Olympia, and Portland. It also gives fee quotes over the phone, which saves you a trip downtown just to learn the price. If your estate is small and everyone gets along, a neighborhood practice on this list may cost less. If anyone in the family has already called a lawyer, call Dickson first.
Seattle Probate Firms at a Glance
| Firm | Best For | Probate Work | Track Record | Area |
| Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess | Top overall pick, contested and routine probate | Formal and summary probate, will contests, trust litigation, creditor claims | 100+ years combined experience, Best Law Firms recognition | Downtown Seattle |
| Skellenger Bender, P.S. | Larger estates with tax questions | Probate, trust administration, estate tax planning | Serving clients since 1928 | Downtown Seattle |
| de Vrieze, Carney PLLC | Families who want a neighborhood firm | Probate, elder law, real estate transfers | Multi-generation West Seattle clients | West Seattle |
| Latterell Law Office | Probate tied to elder care and Medicaid | Probate, elder law, long-term care planning | 4.9 stars (32 Google reviews) | North Seattle |
| Jenny Ling, PLLC | Simple probate administration | Probate administration, wills, trusts | 4.8 stars (57 Google reviews) | South Seattle |
How We Built This List
We looked for firms that list probate as a core service, not a line buried under ten other practice areas. Each firm had to have a real Seattle office, a public phone number, and a visible record with clients. We also split the list by need. Some families need a fast, low-cost filing. Others need a lawyer who can go to court. The best fit depends on which one you are.
1. Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess
Most probate firms either do the paperwork or do the lawsuits. This one does both. The firm takes on contested wills, disputes over personal representatives, trust litigation, and creditor claims throughout Seattle and King County. On the administration side, its probate services cover formal and summary probate along with estate and trust administration.
That mix matters when an estate holds a house, a business, or a bank account someone else claims. The team brings in appraisers and financial experts to build and challenge valuations when probate turns into litigation. Founding partner Thomas Dickson started the practice as a trial lawyer, and the firm’s litigation history reaches back more than three decades.
Cost is the other draw. The firm says it does not hesitate to quote its services over the phone.
Best for: families with a will dispute, a sibling who controls the accounts, or an estate with real property and no clear plan.
Address: 1420 5th Ave, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104 | Website: https://www.dicksonlegal.com/seattle/probate-law-attorneys/
2. Skellenger Bender, P.S.
This is one of the oldest names in Seattle law. Skellenger Bender has served individuals, families, businesses, and government clients since 1928. Its estate team covers the full range from drafting wills and trusts to probate administration and tax planning.
The tax piece is the reason to call. Washington has its own estate tax, and a larger estate can owe it even when no federal tax is due.
Best for: estates large enough to raise state estate tax questions.
Address: 520 Pike St, Suite 1001, Seattle, WA 98101 | Phone: (206) 623-6501
3. de Vrieze, Carney PLLC
Some people want a lawyer down the street, not on the 20th floor. This West Seattle firm is run by partners Heather deVrieze, Elizabeth M. Carney, and Kailei Feeney, and it works on estate planning, probate, elder law, real estate, and business matters. Many of its clients have come back across several generations.
Having real estate lawyers in the same office helps when the main asset in the estate is the family home.
Best for: West Seattle families settling an estate built around a house.
Address: 3909 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 Website: https://westseattlelaw.com/
4. Latterell Law Office
Probate often follows years of care for an aging parent. Latterell Law Office focuses on elder law, including Medicaid planning and long-term care, alongside its probate and estate planning work. Clients rate the office well, with a 4.9-star Google average across 32 reviews.
That background helps when the estate has to deal with Medicaid recovery claims or a surviving spouse who still needs care.
Best for: families closing an estate after a long illness or nursing home stay.
Address: 1037 NE 65th St, Seattle, WA 98115 | Phone: (206) 202-0092
5. Jenny Ling, PLLC
Not every estate needs a big firm. Jenny Ling, PLLC handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate administration for Seattle and nearby King County communities. The practice holds a 4.8-star Google rating from 57 reviews.
The south-end office is easy to reach from Tukwila, Burien, and Renton.
Best for: a cooperative family with a clear will and a short list of assets.
Address: 14900 Interurban Ave S, Suite 280, Seattle, WA 98168
https://www.jennylinglaw.com/
Three Questions to Ask on the First Call
Ask who will do the work. A partner may take the first call and hand your file to someone else. Ask how the firm bills, by the hour or a flat fee, and whether fees come out of the estate. Ask what happens if a family member objects. A firm that has never been to court on a probate case will send you somewhere else once things get tense.
FAQ
How long does probate take in Washington?
A simple estate often closes in six months to a year. The personal representative has to publish a notice to creditors, and creditors get four months from that date to file claims. Disputes, real estate sales, or tax issues add time.
How much does a probate lawyer cost in Seattle?
Most firms bill by the hour, and some offer flat fees for simple filings. In most cases, legal fees get paid from the estate, not from the heirs’ own pockets. Get the fee terms in writing before you sign.
How long do I have to contest a will in Washington?
Washington gives you four months from the date the will is admitted to probate. Miss that window and you lose the right to challenge it. Talk to a lawyer as soon as you suspect a problem.
Do all estates in Washington go through probate?
No. Assets with a named beneficiary, like life insurance, retirement accounts, and payable-on-death bank accounts, pass outside probate. Small estates without real property can sometimes use a simpler affidavit process.
What are nonintervention powers?
Washington courts can grant a personal representative the power to settle the estate without asking the judge to approve each step. It saves time and money, and most uncontested estates in King County use it.
The Bottom Line
Probate in Seattle does not have to drag on. Match the firm to the estate. A calm family with a clear will can work with a small practice. An estate with a house, a business, or a relative ready to fight needs a firm that can handle court. For that second group, Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess is the strongest call on this list.