[WSBAPT] Re-Opened Probate and Old Creditor Claims

Mon Jun 6 15:54:36 PDT 2016

Yep. That’s it.  Thank you.  –Paul Neumiller 

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com
[mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Marcus Fry
Sent: Monday, June 6, 2016 3:19 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Re-Opened Probate and Old Creditor Claims

Here is a Div. 2 appellate case that holds merely filing a creditor’s claim
does not toll the SOL on the claim, and therefore, one claims can be barred
by SOL despite the fact that a creditor claim filed in probate has never
been accepted or rejected by the PR.  I think this case may be on point for
your facts.

In re Estate of Henington, 182 Wn. App. 534 (Div 2 2014)

Creditor's Claims

<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> WA[1-5] [1-5] ¶8 Mr. Wills argues that the
trial court erred when it dismissed Mr. Bradley's creditor's claims as time
barred. We hold that the mere filing of a creditor's claim in a probate
case, without any further action by the claimant or the PR, does not toll
the statute of limitations.

¶9 In order to resolve this case, we rely on interrelated statutes from
chapter 4.16 RCW and chapter 11.40 RCW. In so doing, we find that the
meaning of each of the applicable statutes is plain on its face.

¶10 “Statutory interpretation involves questions of law that we review de
novo. In construing a statute, the court's objective is to determine the
legislature's intent.”
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> State v. Jacobs, 154 Wn.2d 596, 600, 115 P.3d
281 (2005) (citation omitted). “‘[I]f the statute's meaning is plain on its
face, then the court must give effect to that plain meaning as an expression
of legislative intent.’”
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> Jacobs, 154 Wn.2d at 600 (alteration in
original) (quoting
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> Dep't of Ecology v. Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146
Wn.2d 1, 9-10, 43 P.3d 4 (2002)). “[T]he plain meaning is 
 derived from
what the Legislature has said in its enactments, but that meaning is
discerned from all that the Legislature has said in the statute and related
statutes which disclose legislative intent about the provision in question.”
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wn.2d at 11.

¶11
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> RCW 4.16.200 provides: “Limitations on actions
against a person who dies before the expiration of the time otherwise
limited for commencement thereof are as set forth in chapter 11.40 RCW.” A
creditor must then follow the claims procedures established in chapter 11.40
RCW or be forever barred from making a claim or commencing an action against
the decedent. However, if the claim or action is barred by other applicable
statutes, it cannot be pursued. [539]  “An otherwise applicable statute of
limitations applies without regard to the tolling provisions of
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> RCW 4.16.190.”
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> 1
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> RCW 11.40.051(2).

¶12 Contrary to the PR's argument, when read together, this statutory scheme
does not state that the filing of a creditor's claim tolls the statute of
limitations.
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> 2 Rather, it affirmatively states that
limitations on actions apply to chapter 11.40 RCW: Claims Against Estate.
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> RCW 4.16.200;
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> RCW 11.40.051(2). Therefore, we hold that the
statute of limitations is not tolled by the mere filing of a creditor's
claim against an estate.
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> 3Tolling occurs when an action is commenced
against an estate.
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> RCW 4.16.170.

¶13 In so ruling, we note that neither the PR nor Mr. Bradley acted on the
claims after they were filed in May 2008. The PR did not at any time allow
or reject the claim. Mr. Bradley did not serve written notice on the PR or
petition the court for a hearing on the matter. See
<https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=5b825fdb-b248-4928-
a10e-d7d088360a58&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3Acontent
Item%3A5CR6-0YS1-F04M-B13V-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CR6-0YS1-F0
4M-B13V-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=10841&pdshepid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5CP
Y-RHP1-DXC7-F1GC-00000-00&pdteaserkey=sr1&ecomp=bnLhk&earg=sr1&prid=04fbf445
-8351-4de3-93fa-f97ce1d6975f> RCW 11.40.080(2). Approximately four years of
inaction elapsed before the court declared the claims time barred.

Marcus J. Fry

Lyon, Weigand & Gustafson, P.S. 
Adoption Attorney*

P.O. Box 1689 
Yakima, Washington  98907 
Telephone:  (509) 248-7220 
Facsimile:  (509) 575-1883 

NOTICES:

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Adoption Attorneys, an invitation based organization of 300+ attorneys
nationwide, under its criteria of experience, ethics and peer
recommendation. Washington's Supreme Court has not yet developed or
recognized a credentialing process for specialties, and
certification/fellowship is not required to practice law in this state.

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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com
<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
[mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Dalynne Singleton
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 2:55 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Re-Opened Probate and Old Creditor Claims

The probate statutes allow for an extension of the SOL if by another
statute, it is allowed. 

The probate statute is clear on creditor's claims for the time period in
which you can submit one: 

1.      Within 2 years of date of death if the PR/Administrator did not
provide notice by publication or otherwise to the creditor. 

2.      4 months from date of notice to creditors publication 

When you have an MVA, it has a 3 year SOL so the time period to make a claim
against the estate is 3 years from MVA whether it caused death of person at
fault or not. 

The time period between the probate 2 year SOL and the MVA 3 year SOL is
allowed BUT the probate statute limits the claim to the liability insurance
available and nothing from the estate assets. 

I would have to say, once the claim is accepted by the PR, then the rules
follow that it is paid by the estate if there are monies available to pay. 

Just because a creditor's claim is accepted, ALL this means is yes, it is a
valid claim.  BUT, if there are no assets to pay it, then it is still a
valid claim but sorry, can't be paid. 

Waiting 6 years later and re-opening the estate with estate assets becoming
available, it is still a valid claim. 

But here, we have a creditor's claim made and no action - no acceptance or
rejection by the estate. 

If the claim is for less than $1,000, then whether accepted or rejected, by
holding it, it is allowed.  RCW 11.40.090(2).  But, if for more than $1,000
and you hold it, it is on the PR/Administrator to accept or reject.  The
problem is, you are not supposed to be allowed to close an estate without
dealing with the creditor's claims presented.  The clerk closed the estate
with no action – were the creditors given notice of closing the estate?
Doubtful

Dalynne Singleton

Gourley Law Group

Snohomish Escrow

The Exchange Connection

1002 10th Street / PO Box 1091

Snohomish, WA 98291

360.568.5065

360.329.4079

360.568.8092  fax

dalynne at glgmail.com <mailto:dalynne at glgmail.com> 

LICENSED IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON

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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com
<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
[mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Paul Neumiller
Sent: Friday, June 3, 2016 2:34 PM
To: wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com <mailto:wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com> 
Subject: [WSBAPT] Re-Opened Probate and Old Creditor Claims

Dear Listmates.  Happy beautiful Friday afternoon.  I need to reopen a
long-standing, neglected, and troubled probate in order to sell an asset by
having the clerk re-issue the letters testamentary.  Probate was opened in
2004.  In reviewing the file online, I see some creditor claims filed in
2005 which I strongly doubt were paid.  Probate was administratively closed
by court clerk in 2012 because of lack of activity and neglect.  

Do I need to be worried about the creditor claims?  Are they still valid?
Client would like to open the probate, get new letters, sell the asset, and
then close the probate.

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