Washington probate & fiduciary bonds.
We size, underwrite & quote it.

Before the court issues letters, most fiduciaries have to provide a bond. It guarantees you’ll faithfully execute the duty of the trust according to law. The court sets the amount to the size of the estate — and we underwrite it. A surety specialist reviews your file and returns a quote, usually within one business day.

Required of most personal representatives under RCW 11.28.185 before letters issue
Amount is set by the court to protect the assets of the estate
Underwritten on personal credit and financials; collateral may apply to a large estate
Underwrittencourt sets the amountA-ratedA.M. Best carriers1 daytypical specialist reply
Trusted by industry leaders
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
How it works

Built for the grant of letters.

The court won’t issue letters until the bond is filed and approved, so the bond is usually the last step before you can act. Here is the whole process:

TODAY · 10 MINUTES

Send us the file

Apply online with the order or petition setting the bond, the estate’s value, and the fiduciary’s details. The estate size and any restricted assets drive the penal sum.

WITHIN 1 BUSINESS DAY

A surety specialist underwrites it

A specialist reviews the file, a personal credit check, and any financials, then returns a quote. The amount is set by the court — underwriting decides approval and any collateral on a large estate.

ON APPROVAL

Execute & file

Once you bind, we issue the executed bond to the State of Washington as the statute directs, ready for the court to approve so letters can issue.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What a fiduciary bond protects

When the court appoints you to handle someone else’s money — as the personal representative of an estate, or a guardian or conservator for a protected person — it usually requires a bond before issuing letters.

The fiduciary bond guarantees you faithfully execute the duty of the trust according to law: that you inventory the assets, account honestly, and don’t misuse the estate. If you breach those duties, the bond makes the estate or protected person whole — and the surety looks to you to repay it.

Because the surety stands behind the estate, the bond is underwritten on your personal credit and finances, and a large estate can require collateral. A will can direct that no bond be required, but the court may still require one; under RCW 11.28.185 the court can also reduce the bond on a proper showing or substitute other security. Guardianship and conservatorship bonds are governed by RCW 11.130. We tell you what your file needs before you commit.

Washington StatuteRCW 11.28.185 provides that every person required to furnish bond must, before receiving letters testamentary or of administration, execute a bond to the State of Washington conditioned that the personal representative shall faithfully execute the duty of the trust according to law. The court directs the amount and surety, may at any time require additional bond, may allow a reduction of the bond upon a proper showing, and may in its discretion substitute other security or financial arrangements adequate to protect the assets of the estate. Guardianship and conservatorship bonds are governed by RCW 11.130.

You need this bond if you’re

A personal representative (executor or administrator) appointed to administer a Washington estate
A guardian of a minor or an incapacitated adult under RCW 11.130
A conservator managing the property of a protected person under RCW 11.130
Counsel or a family member arranging the bond so the court can issue letters and you can begin administering

The application takes about ten minutes.

These are the actual underwriting fields — the estate, the bond amount the court set, the fiduciary, and your finances. Submit once and a surety specialist returns a quote, typically within one business day. Free until your bond is issued.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

What is a Washington probate or fiduciary bond?It is the bond the court requires before issuing letters to a fiduciary — a personal representative, guardian, or conservator. Under RCW 11.28.185, the bond runs to the State of Washington and is conditioned that the personal representative shall faithfully execute the duty of the trust according to law, protecting the estate or protected person from mismanagement or fraud.
How much does it cost?It is underwritten, not flat-rated. The court sets the penal sum to protect the assets of the estate under RCW 11.28.185. A surety specialist then reviews the fiduciary’s personal credit and finances and returns a premium quote, usually within one business day.
Who decides the bond amount?The court does. RCW 11.28.185 directs the court to set the amount, sized to protect the estate’s assets; it may require additional bond, allow a reduction on a proper showing, or substitute other security. We size and underwrite the bond to whatever amount the court sets.
Can the bond be waived?Sometimes. A will can direct that no bond be required, and the court may dispense with a bond in certain cases. But the court retains discretion under RCW 11.28.185 to require a bond to protect the estate. Where it isn’t waived, the fiduciary must provide a bond before letters issue.
How fast can the bond be issued?A specialist typically returns a quote within one business day of a complete application. Once you bind and any collateral is in place, the executed bond issues, ready for the court to approve so letters can issue.
Related bonds

Other Washington bonds.

Get bonded so the court can issue letters.

Send us the estate details and the amount the court set, and a surety specialist sizes, underwrites, and quotes the bond — typically within one business day. Free until your bond is issued.

PricingOn review
Apply now →