[WSBAPT] Missing probate beneficiary

[Jill H. Sasser]

Hi Candace:

In these cases, I have either hired a PI or search firm to try to find the beneficiary, or I have followed the procedure outlined in RCW 11.80 for missing persons.

However, if you are talking about a very small amount of funds, then I would ask the court if the funds could be paid into the court registry.

I'm happy to discuss offline if you want to call me.  I have had this come up quite a few times in the past and I am happy to share resources and pleadings.

Jill

Jill H. Sasser | Attorney at Law
Landerholm P.S.
805 Broadway Street, Suite 1000
P.O. Box 1086
Vancouver, WA 98666-1086
T: 360-816-2534 T: 503-283-3393 F: 360-816-2535
From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Candace Wilkerson
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 1:56 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBAPT] Missing probate beneficiary

I am about to close a King County nonintervention probate, but one of the probate beneficiaries has gone missing since probate was opened in 2015.  The personal representative tried to find him without success.

I'm going to try one more search before giving up, but if I can't find him: does anyone know the procedure for handling the distribution to a missing beneficiary and providing notice of closure of the estate to that beneficiary?  I assume the funds can be placed into the court registry, but do I need to do a petition for instructions to the court regarding notice to the beneficiary; or do I just publish notice of filing the Declaration of Completion in the Daily Journal of Commerce?  This could be an expensive publication.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Candace Wilkerson



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