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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear listmates,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would appreciate input on whether a small estate administration is appropriate for a potential client. I have the basic facts but client has not come in yet so am missing a few details. Decedent died intestate. She is survived by sister and two brothers. Sister wishes to handle the estate and brothers agree, although it sounds like some dispute among them may be brewing. There is no real property. Assets are a bank account with a few thousand dollars, based on some old statements found in decedent’s apartment. A car, on which $7,000 is owed. (I need to find out the model, year and make to determine the blue book value to see if this asset has any value to the estate.) Finally, 50% interest in a tavern that is incorporated. Because it appears assets (liquid funds at least) are limited, I thought a small estate administration, if possible, might be the best option. Is it possible to use a small estate administration process to have the shares in the tavern transferred to the three siblings? I have not seen the corporate documents, so I do not know if the death of a shareholder is addressed. All of this assumes that the decedent had no significant debt, other than the car. Is it possible or advisable to use a small estate administration to handle this scenario? Also, can you file a probate after you have used a small estate affidavit to take care of some of the assets? (In case we run into issues with the tavern.) Thanks in advance for your input.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lovie Bernardi</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Attorney at Law</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Seligmann & Flaherty, PLLC</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>216 First AVE S, #450</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Seattle, WA 98104</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(206) 682-2616<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:joni@sbfirm.com"><span style='color:blue'>lovie@sbfirm.com</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://sbfirm.com/"><span style='color:blue'>http://sbfirm.com</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>**********<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient or otherwise have received this message in error, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message or any part of it. If you are not the intended recipient or otherwise have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, discard any paper copies and delete all electronic files of the message. <i>Circular 230 Notice: This communication may not be used by you or any other person or entity for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties.</i></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>