<div dir="auto">Jayne,<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I understand the attorney's reasoning, but can't the successor trustee request a copy from the attorney directly, which I am assuming the attorney would be fine releasing a copy to and the successor trustee can then provide a copy to your client/beneficiary? The successor trustee doesn't have to hire the attorney, just request a copy. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Or is there a provision in the trust about how to handle situations with missing individuals? </div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Apr 26, 2017 9:14 PM, "Jayne Gilbert" <<a href="mailto:jgilbertatty@gmail.com">jgilbertatty@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">I truly think the attorney feels he cannot release the Trust instrument without the Successor Trustee's consent or he would be violating ethical rules. He did suggest I might have to go to court to compel production of the Trust.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 8:12 PM, Maureen Wickert <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:wickertlaw@comcast.net" target="_blank">wickertlaw@comcast.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="m_-4620321608178029810m_2004647813107708585WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="m_-4620321608178029810_m_2004647813107708585__MailEndCompose">If the disagreeable attorney represents the “trust,” is he placing himself in a position of representing all the beneficiaries?  “…because he's technically the attorney for the Trust and could be the attorney for the Trustee, if asked…” Sounds a little like protecting fees? Maybe compel production of information from the attorney who represents the “trust” by a court order and ask for attorney fees? </a><span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Very truly yours,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Maureen A. Wickert, Attorney at Law<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><img width="192" height="48" style="width:2.0in;height:.5in" id="m_-4620321608178029810m_2004647813107708585Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D2BEC8.86713B30" alt="Business card for email"></span></span><span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>14900 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 255<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>        Tukwila, WA 98168<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>       Phone: <a href="tel:(206)%20859-5502" value="+12068595502" target="_blank">206-859-5502</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>         Fax: <a href="tel:(206)%20260-9005" value="+12062609005" target="_blank">206-260-9005</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>     </span><a href="http://www.wickertlawoffice.com/" target="_blank"><span>www.wickertlawoffice.com</span><span></span></a><span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>       </span><a href="mailto:wickertlaw@comcast.net" target="_blank"><span>wickertlaw@comcast.net</span><span></span></a><span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#000099">This electronic message contains information which may be confidential and/or legally privileged. The information is intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify me by telephone or by email immediately.</span></i></b></span><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><span></span><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"> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.<wbr>com</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.w<wbr>sbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jayne Gilbert<br><b>Sent:</b> April 26, 2017 18:56<span><br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br></span><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Discovering a Trust<u></u><u></u></span></p><div><div class="m_-4620321608178029810h5"><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Sara:<u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The problem is that the Successor Trustee has not employed the attorney. The attorney says it would be unethical to provide the Trust to my client because he's technically the attorney for the Trust and could be the attorney for the Trustee, if asked. The Trustee's whereabouts is unknown to both of us.<u></u><u></u></span></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 4:37 PM, Sara D. Longley <<a href="mailto:sara@longley-law.pro" target="_blank">sara@longley-law.pro</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p><blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #cccccc 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in"><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">If this attorney represents the current trustee, he’s doing his client no favors by denying a copy of the trust instrument to a qualified beneficiary.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><h4 style="margin-bottom:3.75pt;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">RCW 11.98.072</span><u></u><u></u></h4><h4 style="margin-bottom:3.75pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Trustee—Notification requirements.</span><u></u><u></u></h4><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">(1) A trustee must keep all qualified beneficiaries of a trust reasonably informed about the administration of the trust and of the material facts necessary for them to protect their interests. Unless unreasonable under the circumstances, a trustee must promptly respond to any beneficiary's request for information related to the administration of the trust. The trustee is deemed to have satisfied the request of a qualified beneficiary who requests information concerning the terms of the trust reasonably necessary to enable such beneficiary to enforce his or her rights under the trust if the trustee provides a copy of the entire trust instrument. If a qualified beneficiary must compel production of information from the trustee by order of the court, then the court may order costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, to be awarded to such beneficiary pursuant to RCW<span class="m_-4620321608178029810m_2004647813107708585m-938113969257670235apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.96A.150" target="_blank"><b><span style="color:#7dab8a">11.96A.150</span></b></a>.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><img border="0" width="34" height="40" style="width:.3541in;height:.4166in" id="m_-4620321608178029810m_2004647813107708585m_-938113969257670235Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D2BEC9.78E71600" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01D1F8A6.19C81E60"></span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d">Sara D. Longley, J.D., LL.M.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d">Attorney at Law</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d">1734 NW Market Street</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d">Seattle, WA 98107</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d"><a href="tel:%28206%29%20434-5644" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1f497d;text-decoration:none">(206) 434-5644</span></a></span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d"><a href="mailto:Sara@longley-law.pro" target="_blank">Sara@longley-law.pro</a></span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.longley-law.pro/" target="_blank">www.longley-law.pro</a></span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">This email is intended only for the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and/or exempt from disclosure.  If you have received this message in error, please inform the sender by telephone or reply email and delete this message and all attachments.  Thank you.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></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"> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.<wbr>com</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.w<wbr>sbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jayne Gilbert<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 26, 2017 3:53 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Discovering a Trust</span><u></u><u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">H&W are dead. No probate, but there's a trust with 2 Beneficiaries. The attorney who drew up the Trust says he cannot ethically release it to a beneficiary (the Trustee's sister). He does not represent the successor Trustee, brother as of now, but maintains that his allegiances flow to the current Trustee who cannot be found. Any suggestions re obtaining a copy of the Trust?</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal">-- <u></u><u></u></p><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">******************************<wbr>*******************</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Jayne Marsh Gilbert</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Gilbert and Gilbert Lawyers, PS</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="tel:(360)%20336-9515" target="_blank">(360) 336-9515</a></span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">******************************<wbr>*******************</span><u></u><u></u></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>WSBAPT mailing list<br><a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman<wbr>/listinfo/wsbapt</a><u></u><u></u></p></blockquote></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br clear="all"><u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal">-- <u></u><u></u></p><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">******************************<wbr>*******************</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Jayne Marsh Gilbert</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Gilbert and Gilbert Lawyers, PS</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><a href="tel:(360)%20336-9515" value="+13603369515" target="_blank">(360) 336-9515</a></span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">******************************<wbr>*******************</span><u></u><u></u></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
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<div><font size="4">Jayne Marsh Gilbert</font></div>
<div><font size="4">Gilbert and Gilbert Lawyers, PS</font></div>
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