Whatcom County Affidavit of Deceased Joint Tenant Form

Additional Washington and Whatcom County documents included at no extra charge:

Where to Record Your Documents

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Cities and Jurisdictions in Whatcom County

Properties in any of these areas use Whatcom County forms:

• Acme
• Bellingham
• Blaine
• Custer
• Deming
• Everson
• Ferndale
• Lummi Island
• Lynden
• Maple Falls
• Nooksack
• Point Roberts
• Sumas

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Removing a Deceased Joint Tenant from a Washington Real Estate Title

Washington's statutes define joint tenancy at RCW 64.28.010. This law states that "joint tenancy with right of survivorship permits property to pass to the survivor without the cost or delay of probate proceedings." Property titled this way is not passed in a will; instead, a deceased joint tenant's share is distributed equally amongst the survivors as a function of law until only one person holds the property in sole ownership.

While technically accurate, this description oversimplifies the situation. What happens when it's time to sell the property? Unless the local recording office cross-references death notices with real estate records, the deceased owner's name remains on the title. This inaccuracy can create confusion during a title search and slow down the transfer process. In addition, outdated information might interfere with property tax billing, possibly leading to fees and/or penalties.

The surviving owner(s) can prevent these potential issues with a simple step: when one joint tenant dies, the other(s) execute and record an affidavit of facts as to death with the local recording office. It is possible to address this at the time of sale, but it makes sense to handle it within a short time after the owner's death. This action keeps property records up-to-date, verifies interests and rights to the title, and ensures smoother transfers in the future.

Each circumstance is unique, so please contact an attorney with questions or for complex situations.

(Washington AODJT Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

Important: Your property must be located in Whatcom County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Affidavit of Deceased Joint Tenant meets all recording requirements specific to Whatcom County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Whatcom County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.

Save Time and Money

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