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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Folks –<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-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Out-of-state sole surviving heir, son of decedent & appointed PR, had to come here to clean up hoarder mom’s house to make it saleable. He spent substantial time away from work and bookoo bucks for cleaning, hauling, etc,, in addition to the cost of airfare. Normally, of course, it wouldn’t matter how costs were categorized as it would eventually all come out of the same pot for a sole heir. <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-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>However, DSHS has a substantial lien on the house – the only asset – likely exceeding the value of the property. They have agreed to accept a reduced percentage but, depending on what the house sells for, the DSHS recovery may eat up what’s left when it’s their turn, a la RCW 11.76.110, leaving nothing for the son. Seems only reasonable that, at very least, son should not end up in the negative for out-of-pocket costs. (We did negotiate the reduced lien with DSHS before advising son to even open probate vs. walking away, but son has since discovered greater debt than anticipated.) <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-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>So … I have not found any definitive law or rule as to what constitutes “costs of administration.” Technically, is maximizing the estate value by coming here and cleaning up the house an administrative expense? My thought at this point is to submit all out-of-pocket costs as expenses and let DSHS object if they care to.<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-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thoughts and wisdom?<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><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";background:white'>Marilyn J. Kliman, Attorney at Law</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";background:white'>Marilyn J. Kliman Law, PLLC</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";background:white'>510 Bell Street</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";background:white'>Edmonds, WA 98020</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";background:white'><a href="tel:206.499.0993" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>206.499.0993</span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";background:white'><a href="mailto:Marilyn@MarilynJKlimanLaw.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>Marilyn@MarilynJKlimanLaw.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";background:white'><a href="http://www.marilynjklimanlaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.MarilynJKlimanLaw.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";background:#FFFF66'>NOTICE: </span><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";background:white'>Information contained in this email may be confidential and/or legally protected from disclosure. Our understanding is that intended recipients consent to use of e-mail unless we are notified otherwise in writing. If you are not the intended recipient, nor an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, any unauthorized dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><br />
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