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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Corey,<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">The answer to your first question is YES, you must appoint a Personal Representative for the purpose of pursuing a wrongful death claim, even if no other reason
for probate.<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">The answer to your second question is NO. The Personal Representative is the party, and their authority cannot be delegated by use of a power of attorney. If
the son is going to deal with the lawsuit, the son should be appointed as Personal Representative at the request of the mother.<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">I don’t really know the answer to 3, except if there are no “probate assets” there may be a certain amount of shielding already.<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">Heather<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:16.0pt;font-family:"Vladimir Script";color:#1F497D">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="264" height="147" id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D0D9CF.CDCAEBF0" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01D013C2.30F35160"></span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">3909 California Avenue SW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">Seattle, WA 98116-3705
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">(206)938-5500
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:heatherd@westseattlelaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">heatherd@westseattlelaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.westseattlelaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">www.westseattlelaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002E8A">Click here to connect with de Vrieze | Carney on Facebook:
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVriezeCarney"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="100" height="30" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01D0D9CF.CDACDCA0" alt="FB Logo"></span></b></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#A6A6A6"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#A6A6A6">CONFIDENTIAL & PRIVILEGED. This e-mail message may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately and delete all copies of this e-mail message and any attachment.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:blue"><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:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Corey Rogers<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, August 18, 2015 3:39 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com>; wsbapt@listserv.nethelps.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Questions regarding wrongful death claims and probate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hypothetical client is adult child of deceased father who died as a result of medical malpractice. Mother is still alive, and mother and father were married at time of death. The estate is small and consists almost entirely of retirement
accounts. Mother is working to get those assets paid out, but no probate has been opened (it's possible they don't need a probate at all). However, they do need a PR to handle the wrongful death claim. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Here are the questions I have:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">(1) Does the family need to open a probate even if they could otherwise avoid it (i.e. small estate exception) just to get a PR appointed for the wrongful death claim?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">(2) If mother is appointed PR, can she delegate the duty of dealing with wrongful death attorney to adult child through a power of attorney once she's appointed PR?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">(3) Is the estate of the deceased always on the hook for advanced costs when a med/mal case is handled on contingent fee, or is there a way to wall off the estate from those potential costs if there's no recovery on the med/mal claim?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I appreciate any help with these questions. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Corey Rogers<br clear="all">
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Corey H. Rogers<br>
Attorney at Law<br>
Findley & Rogers, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">600 N. 36th Street, Suite 207<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle, WA 98103<br>
<br>
T: (206) 331-7377<br>
F: (206) 486-9930<br>
<a href="mailto:corey@findleyrogerslaw.com" target="_blank">corey@findleyrogerslaw.com</a><br>
<br>
The content of this email and any attachments may contain information or correspondence that is protected from disclosure by the attorney client privilege. This email is intended only for its intended recipient. If you receive this email in error, you are
prohibited from disseminating this email and must delete it immediately. Please also contact Findley & Rogers, PLLC if you receive this email and are not the intended recipient. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p>
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