<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:Garamond;
panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:Webdings;
panose-1:5 3 1 2 1 5 9 6 7 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Arial Narrow";
panose-1:2 11 6 6 2 2 2 3 2 4;}
/* 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.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@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">I've encountered Marketa's problem too, and always established a guardianship. Ch. 11.88 RCW has special provisions that eliminate a lot of the hassle if the
sole basis for the guardianship is that the minor is a minor.<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">But I also think it's silly and I am annoyed at insurance companies that require this. Does anyone know what the legal basis is? Is it contractual--does the
policy specify that payments to a minor will only be made to a court-appointed guardian? If that's not it and they're just being officiously risk averse, I wonder if a court order requiring payment to a UTMA custodian would suffice, followed by order of contempt
if they fail to comply. I've just never had a client willing to tilt at that particular windmill.<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>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<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>John J. Sullivan<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, May 17, 2015 4:05 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Life insurance company requires parent of minors to be appointed guardian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I've always had to establish a guardianship. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is one alternative, however. You can leave it in the policy until the minor reaches 18. It earns statutory interest. My recollection is the interest rate is quite high, especially compared to today's returns. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I maybe wait until the kid is 17 1/2 to establish the guardianship, assuming the money isn't needed. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">John Sullivan<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><br>
On May 17, 2015, at 3:24 PM, Lisa Schuchman <<a href="mailto:lisa@lisaschuchman.com">lisa@lisaschuchman.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">I tried this argument once with a life insurance company and a guardianship is required, but no GAL.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Lisa E. Schuchman</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">206-325-2801</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif""><a href="http://www.lisaschuchman.com">www.lisaschuchman.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Education is what you get when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get when you don’t. -Pete Seeger</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">NOTE: I do not use encrypted email. Messages sent to or from my office via email are not secure and may not be protected by attorney-client
privilege. This email address is not monitored at all times. If your matter is urgent, please phone my office during regular business hours.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Any tax advice included in this document and its attachments was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, for the
purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green">P</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:green">
</span><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#008100">Please consider the trees before printing this document</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></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"">
<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Marketa Vorel<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, May 17, 2015 12:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Life insurance comapany requires parent of minors to be appointed guardian</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Listmates, <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have very little experience with guardianship of minors and the case law seems a bit thin on this issue. <b>Is a surviving parent of minor children required to undergo guardianship proceedings in order to manage the minors' assets?</b>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The client is mother of two minor beneficiaries on a life insurance policy established by her deceased spouse (the insured). The life insurance company demands "guardianship papers for the finances of minor beneficiaries" before pay out.
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Client and deceased were a legally married (same-sex), client adopted both children at birth and has been their legal parent since then. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The insured also appointed client as the children’s guardian in her will and established a testamentary trust under which any funds due to the minors shall be received and administered. The insured’s will has been admitted to probate and
its provisions are irrevocable and in full force and effect. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">UTMA/RCW 11.114.050, seems to give authority for client to receive and manage the proceeds of the insurance policy without further court proceedings. Specifically, the statute provides that transfers will be “authorized by a will if the
testator has nominated a guardian under RCW 11.114.030 to receive custodial property” and that a “custodian nominated under that section shall be a person to whom a transfer of property of that kind may be made under RCW 11.114.090.” <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">AIG refuses to budge and insists on a court appointed guardian. It seems like the issue of a parent being the de-facto and automatic guardian would be a settled one, without requiring the surviving parent to go to court to demonstrate
guardianship of her own children. What am I missing? <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you in advance for any wisdom,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">M.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">Law Office of Marketa Vorel</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt">1520 K Avenue</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt">Anacortes, WA 98221</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt">206.799.0541</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><a href="mailto:marketa.vorel@gmail.com" target="_blank">marketa.vorel@gmail.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">_______________________________________________<br>
WSBAPT mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</body>
</html>