The state of Washington may require a person or company take out a probate bonds should that person or company be in charge of a person’s estate, will, or trust. Even if the court does not specifically require a surety bond, the person or company charged with overseeing another’s assets may want to take that extra step and receive a bond so they can protect themselves against legal recourse should an outside party find fault with their actions.
Here are a few types of probate bonds that may be required in the state of Washington: administrator bond, curator bond, trustee bond, guardianship bond, receiver bond, custodian of veteran bond.
Administrator Bonds
Courts require an administrator bond (also known as a personal representative or executor bond) when a person or firm is placed in charge of a person’s estate after their death. The administrator must post the bond to financially cover the distribution of assets. This gives the estate legal protection should the assets be mishandled and debts are not paid.
Curator Bond
Another type of estate protection is a curator bond. The court will determine how much the bond should cover by reviewing how much the estate assets are worth. Like an administrator, a curator bond protects the heirs and those who are owed money by a deceased estate.
Trustee Bond
A trustee bond is what it sounds like, a bond that protects the trust from any financial losses should the trustee not fulfill his or her obligations managing the trust. Often times the court requires this type of probate bond to protect the financial interest of the trust recipients. Without this protection people are vulnerable to a large financial loss.
Guardianship Bond
When a person has been appointed guardian over another individual or an estate they must take out a probate bond to ensure the court they will handle the account in good faith. Should the court find that the guardian overstepped their bounds or did not live up to the expectation they can fall back on this probate bond to provide restitution to the estate.
Receiver Bond
A company that is going through bankruptcy may be required by the Washington courts to take out a receiver bond, a type of surety bond. This probate bond shows the court that the company will take care of any outstanding bills, rent, or debts. Should any mishandling of the accounts occur, the receiver bond will provide jurisdiction protection. The bond amount will be determined by the courts to insure any wrong action taken by the overseers of the account will not result in further financial loss to those who are owed funds.
Custodian of Veteran Bond
This type of bond protects a member of the armed services who has been declared incapacitated. The man or woman who served their country and invested money with Veterans Affairs will be taken care of by a custodian of veteran bond. Like a guardianship bond, this probate covers the soldier’s estate and protects the veteran’s assets from being misused or mishandled.
What do all these probate bonds have in common? They are all designed to protect the estate, heirs to the estate, or the individual deemed incapacitated. Any financial mishandling will not result in a loss to the individual, instead the probate bond will protect them against any financial loss and give them peace of mind knowing that their bills will be paid and their financial livelihood will be upheld.