LawLibGuides: Estate and Disability Planning Clinic: Washington Law

Subscription Databases to Access Washington Law Primary and Secondary Sources

Westlaw This link opens in a new window
An extensive collection of legal resources, news, business and public record information.
Lexis+ This link opens in a new window
A comprehensive collection of primary and secondary legal research materials that includes federal, state and limited foreign case law, court rules, statutory and regulatory materials, digests, reference publications, and full text legal periodicals, newsletters, newspapers, and publications; also other non-legal topical reference aids, indexes, digests, and full text periodicals, newsletters and newspapers are included.
Bloomberg Law This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive searchable database of primary and secondary United States legal materials. Includes laws, statutes, commentary, company and market information, and news.

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Washington State

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Bill Tracking - Washington

WA Legislature's Website - FREE Bill Tracking

WA Rules of Professional Conduct

Rules of Professional Conduct

Washington Apple Health Income and Resource Standards

Washington Apple Health Income and Resource Standards
*This links to the January, 2021 standards. Always check for updates before using!*

Washington Statutes: Finding Tools

Westlaw: Washington Statutes Popular Names Table
Current
Westlaw: Washington Statutes Index
Current
Washington Legislature: Popular Names Table
PDF - 2019 Ed.
Washington Legislature: Index
PDF - 2019 Ed.

Mental Health Advance Directives

Mental Health Advance Directives: RCW 71.32.010 et seq.
This is a link to the sections of the RCW related to Mental Health Advance Directives.

Revised Code of Washington

The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is the compilation of all permanent laws now in force. It is a collection of Session Laws (enacted by the Legislature, and signed by the Governor, or enacted via the initiative process), arranged by topic, with amendments added and repealed laws removed. It does not include temporary laws such as appropriations acts.

The print version of the RCW that contains the certificate of the Statute Law Committee is considered the official code (see RCW 1.08.040 The RCW is also available online at the Washington State Legislature's website.

Annotated versions of the RCW are available on Westlaw and Lexis, although the editorial enhancements are not as robust as annotated versions of the U.S. Code.

West's Revised Code of Washington Annotated
Call Number: LAW-Reference & LAW-3rd Floor Washington Range 2A, 3B
(Abbreviation: R.C.W.A.)

Uniform Power of Attorney Act RCW Chapter 11.125
This is the link to the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Chapter 11 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW)), effective January 1, 2017, available on the Washington State Legislature's page. (Beware changes to the law effective January 1, 2022)
West's Revised Code of Washington Annotated (RCWA)
Westlaw provides an annotated version of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Please note that, unlike annotated federal statutes, there are few annotations in the RCWA. If cost is a consideration, start with the free RCW on the State legislature's site.
Legislative History of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act
The Washington State legislature provides links to the bill history and other documents related to the passage of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Note that legislative history materials are also available on Westlaw.
ABA Chart Summarizing State Health Care POA Acts
The ABA has created a chart (updated in September 2019) comparing state health care power of attorney acts. **Check for updates.

Guardianship Acts

Chapter 11.130 UNIFORM GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP, AND OTHER PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS ACT
Note section effective dates! Check the status carefully.
Chapter 11.88 RCW GUARDIANSHIP—APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATION, REMOVAL OF GUARDIANS
Chapter 11.90 RCW UNIFORM ADULT GUARDIANSHIP AND PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS JURISDICTION ACT
Chapter 11.92 RCW GUARDIANSHIP—POWERS AND DUTIES OF GUARDIAN OR LIMITED GUARDIAN

Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA)

Chapter 11.96a RCW TRUST AND ESTATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Washington Secondary Sources

Washington Elder Law & Practice: Basic to Advanced
This title, written by Washington practitioners, provides complete coverage of elder law practice, including sample forms. Please note the date of the last update.
Washington Practice: Elder Law Handbook
In this volume, the materials are combined with a set of fictionalized case studies that illustrate how the basic concepts of Washington Elder Law and Practice: Basic to Advanced (Washington Practice Series Vol. 26) may be applied in realistic situations to solve clients’ problems (Chapters 1 to 4). In addition, selected reference materials are included for regulations relating to Medicaid program assistance to pay for long-term care (Chapters 5 to 10) and regulations relating to Medicaid program expansion and the premium tax credit under the Affordable Care Act (Chapters 11 and 12). The fictionalized case studies have been structured to allow for rapid access to specific practice issues, and to provide a comprehensive viewpoint of various types of cases.
Washington Deskbooks
The Washington State Bar Association publishes deskbooks on various topics. Many practitioners prefer the deskbooks to Washington Practice because the tone is very practitioner-oriented. In addition to an analysis of the law, the deskbooks give practical pointers on common problems that crop up for a particular issue. The Civil Procedure Deskbook, the Appellate Practice Deskbook, and the Real Property Deskbook are among some of the most widely used. The deskbooks are available in print in the Reserve area of the library or online via Lexis+.

Washington Forms

The Washington State Law Library (WSLL) has compiled a research guide with helpful links to Washington Forms, including a link to The Washington State Court Forms website, which provides a list of forms that are used statewide in Washington Courts. It includes many mandatory forms used in family law (divorce, child support, parenting plans, relocation, domestic violence, etc.) as well as other forms dealing with bankruptcy, garnishment, small claims, criminal law, juvenile offenders, and guardianship.

The WSLL's research guide also discusses forms required by local courts and State agencies.

You can also find forms on Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg.