[WSBAPT] Nonprobate Notice to Creditors - how to close the matter

[Sara D. Longley]

Hello listmates,

My clients opened a matter for a nonprobate Notice to Creditors under RCW 11.42 for a gentleman (with no surviving spouse) who arranged his estate so no probate was needed to transfer his assets.  The Notice Agent was duly appointed and the Nonprobate Notice to Creditors was published and mailed to DSHS, and the four-month claim period has expired with no claims filed.  No readily ascertainable creditors were identified, as the decedent's finances were managed by the Notice Agent prior to his death and all his bills were paid when received.

The statute is silent on how to close the court matter.  What do we need to do?  Does it just close on its own, or is there a Declaration of some sort that we need to file?  Do we need to wait the full two years before the Notice Agent resigns, just in case a creditor appears and asserts they were reasonably ascertainable and should have received direct notice?

Assuming somebody on the list has done this before, what have you done to finalize the matter and get your Notice Agent off the hook after the claim period has expired?

Thanks in advance,
Sara



Sara D. Longley  [http://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/enev.gif] <https://www.practus.com/vcard/Sara_Longley.vcf>
Associate
[https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/practus.png]
[https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/phone.png] (360) 378-4450 (Main Office)
[https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/phone.png] (360) 468-7230 (Direct Dial)
[https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/email.png] sara.longley at practus.com<mailto:sara.longley at practus.com>
[https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/bio.png]   My Bio<https://practus.com/attorney/sara-d-longley/>  |  Connect on LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradlongley/>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbapt/attachments/20260617/677ca08f/attachment.html>