Wash. Rev. Code » Title 11 · Chapter 11.96A
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050 (2026)

Venue in proceedings involving probate or trust matters

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2445.SL) ***
(1) Venue for proceedings pertaining to trusts is:
(a) For testamentary trusts established under wills probated in the state of Washington, in the superior court of the county where the probate of the will is being administered or was completed or, in the alternative, the superior court of the county where any qualified beneficiary of the trust as defined in RCW 11.98.002 resides, the county where any trustee resides or has a place of business, or the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located; and
(b) For all other trusts, in the superior court of the county where any qualified beneficiary of the trust as defined in RCW 11.98.002 resides, the county where any trustee resides or has a place of business, or the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located. If no county has venue for proceedings pertaining to a trust under the preceding sentence, then in any county.
(2) A party to a proceeding pertaining to a trust may request that venue be changed. If the request is made within four months of the giving of the first notice of a proceeding pertaining to the trust, except for good cause shown, venue must be moved to the county with the strongest connection to the trust as determined by the court, considering such factors as the residence of a qualified beneficiary of the trust as defined in RCW 11.98.002, the residence or place of business of a trustee, and the location of any real property that is an asset of the trust.
(3) Venue for proceedings subject to chapter 11.130 RCW must be determined under the provisions of those chapters [that chapter].
(4) Venue for proceedings pertaining to the probate of wills, the administration and disposition of a decedent's property, including nonprobate assets, and any other matter not identified in subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section, must be in any county in the state of Washington that the petitioner selects. A party to a proceeding may request that venue be changed if the request is made within four months of the mailing of the notice of appointment and pendency of probate required by RCW 11.28.237, and except for good cause shown, venue must be moved as follows:
(a) If the decedent was a resident of the state of Washington at the time of death, to the county of the decedent's residence; or
(b) If the decedent was not a resident of the state of Washington at the time of death, to any of the following:
(i) Any county in which any part of the probate estate might be;
(ii) If there are no probate assets, any county where any nonprobate asset might be; or
(iii) The county in which the decedent died.
(5) Once letters testamentary or of administration have been granted in the state of Washington, all orders, settlements, trials, and other proceedings under this title must be had or made in the county in which such letters have been granted unless venue is moved as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(6) Venue for proceedings pertaining to powers of attorney must be in the superior court of the county of the principal's residence, except for good cause shown.
(7) If venue is moved, an action taken before venue is changed is not invalid because of the venue.
(8) Any request to change venue that is made more than four months after the commencement of the action may be granted in the discretion of the court.
[ 2020 c 312 s 713; 2013 c 272 s 3; 2011 c 327 s 6; 2001 c 203 s 10; 1999 c 42 s 202.]

Notes:

Effective dates—2020 c 312: See note following RCW 11.130.915.
Application—2013 c 272: See note following RCW 11.98.002.
Application—Effective date—2011 c 327: See notes following RCW 11.103.020.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2011–2026 · leading case: Sloans v. Berry, 358 P.3d 426 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Sloans v. Berry, 358 P.3d 426 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “4 Venue is proper under RCW 11.96A.050 and this court has subject matter jurisdiction over the matters/claims asserted in this suit.”
Experience Hendrix, L.L.C v. HendrixLicensing.com, Ltd., 766 F. Supp. 2d 1122 (W.D. Wash. 2011). “RCW 11.96A.050(3). 16 . Any contention that Washington has an interest in curtailing infringements of a right of publicity misses the mark.”
In the Matter of the Jeremy Denniston Settlement Pres. Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 17× “” RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b). In this case, the trust monitoring action was filed in Walla Walla County Superior Court, as the Bank—acting as Trustee— maintains its principal place of business there.”
Est. Of Mildred G. Johnson (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 5× “And Pierce County Superior Court was a proper venue for the probate under RCW 11.96A.050. Thus, under both the current statute and former RCW 11.”
Porter v. Boisso, 354 P.3d 892 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× ““Once letters testamentary or of administration have been granted in the state of Washington,” however, “all orders, settlements, trials, and other proceedings under this title must be had or made in the county in which such letters have been granted unless venue is moved as…”
In the Matter of the Est. of Helen Louise Giorgi Grimsley Owen (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “RCW 11.96A.050(4). However, if a party moves for change of venue within four months of the notice of appointment, and the decedent was a Washington resident at the time of death, the court must move venue to the county of the decedent’s residence unless good 3 Johnson filed a…”
Est. Of Angela Elaine Nowell (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 2× “” RCW 11.96A.050(4). “Once letters testamentary or of administration have been granted in the state of Washington, all orders, settlements, trials, and other proceedings under this title must be had or made in the county in which such letters have been granted unless venue is…”
Kevin Porter v. Nathaniel Boisso (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “TEDRA's venue provision provides that the original venue for proceedings pertaining to the probate of wills and most other estate administration matters is "in any county of the state of Washington that the petitioner selects," subject to a party's right to make a timely request…”
Ioan Paunescu & Daniela Paunescu v. Gerhard Eckert (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “See RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b) (venue is proper in any county “where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located”).”
In Re Quach Living Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “See RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b) (Venue is appropriate for trusts in the superior court of “the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located.”
In Re Quach Living Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “See RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b) (Venue is appropriate for trusts in the superior court of “the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located.”
Ralph v. Dep't of Nat. Res. (Wash. 2014). “the petitioner selects," RCW 11.96A.050(4). These statutes recognize that the resolution of an action can involve multiple properties situated in different counties and that it would be impractical to require parties to litigate matters in different courts or inconvenient venues…”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050(1)(b) — 4 cases
Ioan Paunescu & Daniela Paunescu v. Gerhard Eckert (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “See RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b) (venue is proper in any county “where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located”).”
In Re Quach Living Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “See RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b) (Venue is appropriate for trusts in the superior court of “the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located.”
In the Matter of the Jeremy Denniston Settlement Pres. Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b). In this case, the trust monitoring action was filed in Walla Walla County Superior Court, as the Bank—acting as Trustee— maintains its principal place of business there.”
In Re Quach Living Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “See RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b) (Venue is appropriate for trusts in the superior court of “the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050(2) — 1 case
In the Matter of the Jeremy Denniston Settlement Pres. Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b). In this case, the trust monitoring action was filed in Walla Walla County Superior Court, as the Bank—acting as Trustee— maintains its principal place of business there.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050(3) — 2 cases
Experience Hendrix, L.L.C v. HendrixLicensing.com, Ltd., 766 F. Supp. 2d 1122 (W.D. Wash. 2011). “RCW 11.96A.050(3). 16 . Any contention that Washington has an interest in curtailing infringements of a right of publicity misses the mark.”
Est. Of Mildred G. Johnson (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “And Pierce County Superior Court was a proper venue for the probate under RCW 11.96A.050. Thus, under both the current statute and former RCW 11.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050(4) — 5 cases
Porter v. Boisso, 354 P.3d 892 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). ““Once letters testamentary or of administration have been granted in the state of Washington,” however, “all orders, settlements, trials, and other proceedings under this title must be had or made in the county in which such letters have been granted unless venue is moved as…”
In the Matter of the Est. of Helen Louise Giorgi Grimsley Owen (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “RCW 11.96A.050(4). However, if a party moves for change of venue within four months of the notice of appointment, and the decedent was a Washington resident at the time of death, the court must move venue to the county of the decedent’s residence unless good 3 Johnson filed a…”
Est. Of Angela Elaine Nowell (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “” RCW 11.96A.050(4). “Once letters testamentary or of administration have been granted in the state of Washington, all orders, settlements, trials, and other proceedings under this title must be had or made in the county in which such letters have been granted unless venue is…”
Ralph v. Dep't of Nat. Res. (Wash. 2014). “the petitioner selects," RCW 11.96A.050(4). These statutes recognize that the resolution of an action can involve multiple properties situated in different counties and that it would be impractical to require parties to litigate matters in different courts or inconvenient venues…”
Kevin Porter v. Nathaniel Boisso (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “TEDRA's venue provision provides that the original venue for proceedings pertaining to the probate of wills and most other estate administration matters is "in any county of the state of Washington that the petitioner selects," subject to a party's right to make a timely request…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050(4)(a) — 1 case
In the Matter of the Est. of Helen Louise Giorgi Grimsley Owen (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “RCW 11.96A.050(4). However, if a party moves for change of venue within four months of the notice of appointment, and the decedent was a Washington resident at the time of death, the court must move venue to the county of the decedent’s residence unless good 3 Johnson filed a…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050(5) — 3 cases
Porter v. Boisso, 354 P.3d 892 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). ““Once letters testamentary or of administration have been granted in the state of Washington,” however, “all orders, settlements, trials, and other proceedings under this title must be had or made in the county in which such letters have been granted unless venue is moved as…”
Est. Of Angela Elaine Nowell (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “” RCW 11.96A.050(4). “Once letters testamentary or of administration have been granted in the state of Washington, all orders, settlements, trials, and other proceedings under this title must be had or made in the county in which such letters have been granted unless venue is…”
Kevin Porter v. Nathaniel Boisso (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “TEDRA's venue provision provides that the original venue for proceedings pertaining to the probate of wills and most other estate administration matters is "in any county of the state of Washington that the petitioner selects," subject to a party's right to make a timely request…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.96A.050(8) — 1 case
In the Matter of the Jeremy Denniston Settlement Pres. Trust (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 11.96A.050(1)(b). In this case, the trust monitoring action was filed in Walla Walla County Superior Court, as the Bank—acting as Trustee— maintains its principal place of business there.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.