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<p class="MsoNormal">But the original post indicates that the surviving spouse also used the card and that her name was also on the account. As a co-signer on the account I think she is separately liable for the debt. See
<i>Brown v. Spokane County Fire Protection Dist. No. 1</i>, 21 Wn. App. 886 (1978), for a case distinguishing
<i>Ruth v. Dight </i>and <i>Graham v. Radford</i> and holding that where an accident may result in both community and separate liability for the surviving spouse, the failure to file a claim in the estate of the deceased spouse does not bar a subsequent action
against the surviving spouse based on his/her separate liability.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jon M. Fritzler<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PO Box 61451<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vancouver, WA 98666<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tel. 360.818.4431<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eml <a href="mailto:fritzlerlaw@outlook.com">fritzlerlaw@outlook.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">CONFIDENTIALITY<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Lewis, Amy C.<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 14, 2016 10:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Handling credit card debt - probate<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">There is case law indicating that the probate bar applies to the surviving spouse as well. We’ve had success sending letters rejecting claims and citing these cases.
<i>Ruth v. Dight, </i>75 Wn.2d 660 and <i>Graham v. Radford </i>71<i> Wn.2d 752<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Amy C. Lewis, Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" width="215" height="72" style="width:2.2395in;height:.75in" id="Picture_x0020_16" src="cid:image002.png@01D20E93.53E08490" alt="http://www.eisenhowerlaw.com/sites/www.eisenhowerlaw.com/themes/eisenhower/20150213_logo.png"></span><span style="font-size:3.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#C00000"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#C00000">ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">1201 Pacific Avenue, Suite 1200 | Tacoma, WA 98402<br>
phone 253.572.4500 | fax 253.272.5732 | </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="http://www.eisenhowerlaw.com/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#C00000;text-decoration:none">www.eisenhowerlaw.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></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>G. (Gus) Benjamin Lindsey III<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 14, 2016 10:29 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Handling credit card debt - probate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good morning,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have a probate case in which there is a credit card debt in excess of $18,000. Though it appears that the deceased was the most frequent user of the card, the survivor spouse also used the card. (Both names are on the account)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The credit card company was sent a creditor claim notice but did not file a claim within the required period. (Neither the estate nor the surviving spouse has the cash/assets to pay off this debt)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As expected, the credit card company has told the surviving spouse that she is responsible and that’s the end of the story! Has anyone had success negotiating a lower settlement in a similar situation. The surviving spouse is very litigation
adverse so we are trying to find creative ways, if any exist, to resolve this matter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">G. (Gus) Benjamin Lindsey III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Law Office of G. Benjamin Lindsey III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2012 Grade Road, Suite 202<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Phone: (425) 263-9585<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">website: <a href="http://www.gbl3law.com/">www.gbl3law.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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