[WSBAPT] Sealing Records / Protecting Information in a Probate

[Bruce Moen]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I think that the bench would take a dim view of sealing the pleadings of a probate administration.

I suggest just avoiding disclosure of your client's private info.  Use your office as a care-of address for your client, don't file the Inventory, and such steps.

Alternatively, she could decline to serve as the PR.

  -Bruce Moen

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of msafren at jennylinglaw.com
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2023 9:22 AM
To: 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBAPT] Sealing Records / Protecting Information in a Probate

Hello Listmates,

I have a question regarding handling a probate case that I wanted to solicit your collective wisdom and insight into.

A client is the beneficiary of an estate and seeks to open probate, however, said client is a survivor of domestic abuse and I was told that protection orders were granted previously to prevent contact from the claimed absuer.  In order to protect the privacy of the beneficiary/ administrator - is there as way to seal or obtain a protective order to keep the information in the probate case non-public?

I realize that the public and interested parties such as creditors and other possible beneficiaries have an interest in have the records and filings remain public, so I'm not sure if sealing the records or getting a protective order to keep these records private is even a possibility, so I welcome your insights and thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you all in advance!

Kind regards,

Michael S. Safren, Esq.
Attorney at Law

14900 Interurban Ave. S., Ste. 280 | Seattle, WA 98168
11900 NE 1st St., Bldg. G - Ste. 300 |  Bellevue, WA 98005
P: (206) 859-5098 | E: msafren at jennylinglaw.com<mailto:msafren at jennylinglaw.com>
www.jennylinglaw.com<http://www.jennylinglaw.com/> | facebook.com/jennylinglaw/<http://www.facebook.com/jennylinglaw/>


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