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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">The waiver form in the probate deskbook actually includes the “release attorneys from all liability” language.
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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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Script MT Bold";color:black">Rebecca King<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:black">Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Northwest Elder Law Group</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">11300 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 101<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Seattle, WA 98125<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">(206) 937-6102<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Fax (206) 830-9326<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:black">Providing Services in Elder Law<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:black">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged
information protected by law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.<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>T Roberts<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 28, 2016 8:48 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Self-Serving Receipt of Heir<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I'd second Doug's alternatives. Dealing with contentious heirs can justify a final hearing to close the estate and discharge the PR. However, I would be wary of the extent of the work expended on releases and who paid it.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I've been in courtroom when a commissioner ordered fees disgorged from the PR and the PR's attorney for work associated with trying to get settlement agreements and waivers from heirs and beneficiaries releasing the PR from liability, reasoning
that all work associated with any release of liability was for the PR's personal benefit, did not provide any benefit to the estate, and were not appropriate administrative expenses. The Commissioner spent quite a long time dressing down the PR and his counsel
for this misappropriation of estate resources. The amount of fees was substantial, I can't remember the exact figure but it was well over $20k, so the sheer amount may have been what sent the commissioner over the edge. Still a good cautionary example.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tara M. Roberts<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Puget Sound Law pllc<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:roberts@pugetsoundlaw.com">roberts@pugetsoundlaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 9:35 PM, Doug Schafer <<a href="mailto:schafer@pobox.com" target="_blank">schafer@pobox.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">I have doubts that RPC 1.8(h) applies, or that the requested release of the PR's lawyer is improper. The estate beneficiaries are not clients or former clients of the PR's lawyer, so RPC 1.8(h) by its terms
does not apply. But if a beneficiary refuses to sign a release of the PR, then the PR's lawyer reasonably might advise his client (PR) to opt for a costly judicial discharge by filing a final report and petition for distribution and schedule a hearing (rather
than filing a declaration of completion) for a judicial decree of distribution and discharge of the PR. (RCW 11.76.040 - .060). However, if a beneficiary signs a release of the PR but strikes out the phrase releasing the PR's lawyer, I believe the lawyer
ought to consider that an acceptable release, and the lawyer should rely on Trask v. Butler, 123 Wn.2d 835, to shield him/her from liability. If the lawyer in such a case insists on a personal release of the lawyer, I believe the lawyer's interests are then
conflicting with his/her client's interests in expeditiously closing the estate.<br>
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RPC 1.8(h) reads:<br>
(h) A lawyer shall not: <br>
(1) make an agreement prospectively limiting the lawyer's liability to a client for malpractice unless permitted by law and the client is independently represented by a lawyer in making the agreement; or
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(2) settle a claim or potential claim for such liability with an unrepresented client or former client unless that person is advised in writing of the desirability of seeking and is given a reasonable opportunity to seek the advice of an independent lawyer
in connection therewith.<br>
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Doug Schafer, in Tacoma<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 9/27/2016 4:06 PM, Karen E. Boxx wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="color:#1F497D">Sounds like a potential violation of RPC 1.8(h). </span>
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<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" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 27, 2016 3:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Self-Serving Receipt of Heir</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<br>
<br>
Just saw something that raised my eyebrows in a probate where I represent a beneficiary. The PR’s attorney prepared, and is distributing for signature, a “Receipt of Heirs” that releases the estate, the PR,
<u>AND THE PR’S ATTORNEY</u>. It releases “[PR’s attorney’s name], in his capacity as attorney for the personal representative, from any further or other liability with regard to this matter.” This just doesn’t pass the smell test for me. OR, should I start
preparing my Receipt of Heirs by releasing <i>me</i> for probates I am handling??? What is the common practice out there in probate land?<br>
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<a name="m_-38189546063443797_Paul_Neumiller"><img border="0" width="250" height="150" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D2196C.527F1BF0"></a><br>
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