Washington Fiduciary Duties in Probate & Estate Matters
A fiduciary is someone who must act in the best interests of another person or entity. In Washington estate matters, fiduciaries commonly include personal representatives (executors/administrators), trustees, and in some contexts, agents acting under a durable power of attorney.
Fiduciary duties often include loyalty, care, impartiality among beneficiaries, and prudent management of assets. Fiduciaries are typically expected to keep accurate records, avoid conflicts of interest, communicate appropriately with interested parties, and follow the governing documents (such as a will or trust) and Washington law.
Because fiduciary decisions can affect beneficiaries’ rights and estate outcomes, misunderstandings and disputes are common—especially when estates include real estate, mixed family structures, or unclear instructions.
Learn Fiduciary Responsibilities Before Taking Action
Our experimental legal guidance chatbot provides general educational information about fiduciary duties in Washington, common probate and trust administration issues, recordkeeping, conflict concerns, and questions that arise during distributions.
Use it to get oriented, then schedule a consultation with Ruth for advice tailored to your fiduciary role and situation.
Disclaimer: The chatbot provides general information only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individual circumstances require personalized legal advice.
About Ruth
Ruth Apahidean is a trusts and estates attorney at the Law Office of Neil R. Sarles. Her practice focuses on elder law, estate planning, and probate. She helps individuals and families plan for the management and transfer of their assets during life and after death.
This includes creating wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. She assists clients decide how assets should be distributed, who will make financial or medical decisions if the client becomes incapacitated, and how to protect beneficiaries such as minor children or family members with special needs.
Ruth guides individuals and families through the probate process (the court-supervised procedure used to settle a person’s estate after death). Her primary role is to assist the personal representative ensure that the deceased person’s assets are distributed according to a valid will or, if no will exists, in accordance with state law.
She has volunteered at Neighborhood Legal Clinics: Elder Law Clinic, the Washington First Responder Will Clinic, and Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers. Ruth is the Bar Talk Columnist for the King County Bar Association Bar Bulletin and the New Lawyer Liaison for the Washington State Bar Association Senior Lawyers Section.
Learn more about Ruth at https://www.sarles.com/.
Education:
- J.D., University of Washington School of Law
- B.A., History and English, University of Washington, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions:
- U.S. District Courts: Western District of Washington
- All Washington State Courts
Memberships:
- King County Bar Association
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or want to schedule a meeting, you can reach Ruth directly by email at ruth@sarles.com or using the form below.