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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Just dealt with it about a year ago. One thing to consider is that there is the cost in pursuing the civil matter (not only to determine
slayer, but also the wrongful death action) as it costs money to do so. Another, as pointed out below, is whether defendant’s testimony is necessary in the civil action. If so, criminal defense atty will prevent his testimony until the criminal case is resolved.
We had co-conspirators and one pleaded guilty we pursued getting his testimony so that we could pursue the civil case, but was stonewalled by the prosecutor and his criminal defense attorney who didn’t want their criminal case messed up against the other.
Client elected to save money and wait until the criminal case was determined. However, you are not required to do so if you have all the necessary evidence but if you don’t it can be difficult to obtain due to the ongoing investigation and trial preparation.<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>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D">Marcus J. Fry<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D">Lyon, Weigand & Gustafson, P.S.</span><span style="color:#1F497D">
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D">Adoption Attorney*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D">P.O. Box 1689</span><span style="color:#1F497D">
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D">Yakima, Washington 98907</span><span style="color:#1F497D">
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</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D">Telephone: (509) 248-7220</span><span style="color:#1F497D">
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</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D">Facsimile: (509) 575-1883</span><span style="color:#1F497D">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> *Adoption Attorney reflects election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, an invitation based organization of
300+ attorneys nationwide, under its criteria of experience, ethics and peer recommendation. Washington's Supreme Court has not yet developed or recognized a credentialing process for specialties, and certification/fellowship is not required to practice law
in this state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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>G. Geoffrey Gibbs<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 30, 2015 10:53 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv; 'Solo and Small Practice Section'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] slayer statute / preponderance of evidence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I suspect that you will have to hold the probate open for a length of time while the criminal matter is resolved. Were I counsel for the accused, I would certain
assert his rights to decline to testify and the probate trial and request a continuance of the same until the criminal matter is resolved. If the criminal matter is resolved in favor of the accused, you face a different and lesser burden of proof in the probate
but I doubt that the court handling the probate will want to engage in the civil trial until the criminal matter is resolved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">G3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">G. Geoffrey Gibbs | Anderson Hunter Law Firm</span></b><span style="color:#1F497D">
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">2707 Colby Avenue | Everett, WA 98201</span><span style="color:#1F497D">
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Phone: (425) 252-5161 | Fax: (425) 258-3345</span><span style="color:#1F497D">
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:ggibbs@andersonhunterlaw.com">ggibbs@andersonhunterlaw.com</a> /
<a href="http://www.andersonhunterlaw.com/">www.andersonhunterlaw.com</a></span><span style="color:#1F497D">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">This email message may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized use is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please
contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<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>Valerie Ohlstrom<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 30, 2015 10:32 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv'; 'Solo and Small Practice Section'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] slayer statute / preponderance of evidence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please answer to the list. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy"">Very Truly Yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy"">Val<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Valerie O. Ohlstrom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ohlstrom Law Office<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:vohlstrom@comcast.net"><span style="color:windowtext">valerie@ohlstromlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ohlstromlaw.com/"><span style="color:windowtext">www.ohlstromlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(425) 881-5251<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">This electronic message is intended for the sole use of the recipient(s) named above and may contain confidential and legally privileged information. Any unauthorized
review, use, copying, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, and received this electronic message in error, please immediately contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.<span style="font-variant:small-caps"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<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"">
<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>Krista MacLaren<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 30, 2015 10:17 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Solo and Small Practice Section; wsba probate & trust<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] slayer statute / preponderance of evidence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Good People,<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 am working on a probate in which the decedent was allegedly killed by the main beneficiary under her will. I am trying to figure out how to get the probate court to conclude he is a slayer under the statute. But the murder only took
place in July and he has only recently been arraigned and plead not guilty. I thought maybe if I could learn on what basis he was arrested and charged, that would be sufficient for the probate court to determine by a preponderance of the evidence that he
is a slayer. I submitted a public records request to the king county sheriff, and they have said that records in open and active cases cannot be released. Will I have to just hold the probate open for eternity until he is either convicted or the case is
not open or active, in order to determine who receives decedent's funds? We actually have not even opened the probate yet, so the passing of several months isn't a big deal. I had hoped to address the issue of the beneficiary when opening the probate in
a noticed hearing. I would love to hear from anyone who has seen the slayer statute play out in real life before. Suggestions welcome!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Krista J. MacLaren<br>
Attorney at Law<br>
Northgate Executive Center II<br>
9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 600<br>
Seattle, WA 98115<br>
(206)523-6116<br>
<a href="mailto:kjm.inc@mac.com">kjm.inc@mac.com</a><br>
<br>
Please note, as with most email providers, Mac does not encrypt email messages. Accordingly, the confidentiality of messages sent to this address cannot be assured. This e-mail is intended for viewing only by the individual or entity to whom its content is
addressed, and it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you received this email in error, please honor the privacy of the intended recipient: reply to the sender regarding the error and delete the message. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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