<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Monotype Corsiva";
panose-1:3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Plaintiff in the auto accident would only want to sue if the policy coverage were insufficient to fully compensate for Plaintiff's injuries, AND the available
un-/underinsured motorist coverage wasn't enough,</span> <span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
AND the decedent had enough assets to make it worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If Plaintiff wants to sue, would have to (a) have an open probate to sue, (b) timely file a creditor claim, (c) force rejection of the claim, and (d) timely
file suit within 30 days after rejection of the claim, and then (d) serve the lawsuit on the PR of the Estate. All of which (except service of process) would have to be done within 24 months of date of death of deceased defendant. Which is a trap for Plaintiff
if they're thinking of the 3-year S/L for a personal injury action; if they wait more than 2 years, they're barred. (But not barred from recovering from insurance policy--see RCW 11.40.060--just recovering from the Estate.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Only valid way to serve the lawsuit is on the PR of the Estate. Service on insurance company is not valid. Service on husband is valid as to him, but not as
to decedent if he's not the PR in a pending probate. (And I don't think it's valid as service on the "marital community" because the community no longer exists.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If there is no probate, creditor would have to open one in order to have someone to serve. And as you say, they'd have to give notice of application to the
husband (RCW 11.28.131). Husband does have a statutory right to administer community property (RCW 11.28.030), but it's deemed waived if not exercised within 40 days of DOD. But there's a Will, and I'm guessing Husband is named as Executor. So if he gets notice
of application for appointment of administrator of the Estate, he could intervene by applying to be Executor under the Will instead--and that will beat any administration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If you want to try the creditor process on the plaintiff, then start the probate, publish notice to creditors, and
<u>three</u> months after publication, mail a Notice to Creditors to the plaintiff and plaintiff's insurance company. That gives them essentially 30 days to file a creditor claim, or they're barred.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>amanda_wilson@olypenlawoffices.com<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 23, 2015 1:25 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Decedent's Estate Might be Sued<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">This is my first time encountering this, though I am sure it will be far from the last.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">Husband is coming in today. His wife died recently in a car accident where she is at fault. They have Wills and a Community Property Agreement. They have not been sued, as yet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">The husband will want to not open a Probate, because he has a Community Property Agreement. I just need to know if there is any reason we have to open a Probate or if it would be advantageous
to do so for any reason.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">One thought comes to mind (love it when that happens): If the other party sues, they will either serve the husband or the insurance company if the lawyers at the insurance company are representing
him (am I right?), but if they are suing her estate, they might open a Probate from her estate as a creditor (am I right?), and then the husband would still be PR over all of their community property which is everything (am I right?). Also, I don't think there
is anyway to make this "known creditor" follow the thirty day special notice rule, right?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">Any discussion from the group would be appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">Amanda<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Monotype Corsiva"">Amanda M. Wilson, esq.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Monotype Corsiva""> </span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">Olympic Peninsula Law Offices, LLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">219 W Patison St.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">Port Hadlock, WA 98339<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">(360)437-4172 office<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word">(206)331-7851 cell phone<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;word-wrap: break-word"><em>"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou</em><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>