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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Yes, as I said--The plaintiff's claim against the
<u>Estate</u>, that is, ability to get a judgment against Estate assets, is barred 2 years after date of death. But as you said, true, the bar does not protect insurance companies from having to pay on a claim. RCW 11.40.060. I assumed that didn't matter for
this question; I interpreted the issue to be about protecting estate assets from the claim.<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">Also, to clarify--the plaintiff doesn't have 3 years
<u>after DOD</u> to pursue the claim against the insurance company under RCW 11.40.060; the plaintiff is still under the normal statute of limitations for a PI action--3 years from
<u>date of injury</u>.<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"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<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>Dalynne Singleton<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 16, 2018 2:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Open a probate or not<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:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro"">The plaintiff’s claim against the estate won’t be barred after 2 years. After 2 years, the plaintiff can then make a claim against insurance proceeds of the decedent, if any, and
only be barred from claiming against the estate assets. The plaintiff has 3 years to make a claim against insurance policy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro"">One problem you will have is if the plaintiff wants to sue the decedent, a probate will have to be opened and someone appointed as administrator to accept service. If you don’t choose,
one will be chosen for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:#1F497D">Dalynne Singleton<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Gourley Law Group<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Snohomish Escrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">The Exchange Connection<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:#0563C1"><a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">dalynne@glgmail.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Californian;color:black">LICENSED IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON</span></i><span style="font-family:Californian;color:black"><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"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 16, 2018 12:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Open a probate or not<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">So decedent is a potential defendant in a personal injury claim by the motorcycle rider who was injured?<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">I can see some good reasons NOT to open a probate here, but there may be other reasons to open it, if for example the heirs need immediate access to decedent's
assets. (I suppose they might, since the reverse mortgage needs to get paid which means the house has to be sold.)<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">But assuming you can make a decision solely on the basis of decedent's potential liability, I think best not to open the probate, and wait to see what happens.
The goal is to make it past the time limit on claims against the estate, 2 years after date of death. RCW 11.40.051. The plaintiff's claim against the estate will be barred after 2 years, and the probate can be opened with assurance that decedent's assets
won't be subject to a potential judgment.<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">If the plaintiff wants to settle within the 2-year limit, hopefully they'll aim for, at most, policy limits on the decedent's insurance, plus UIM coverage the
plaintiff had. If plaintiff does eventually decide to sue the decedent for damages in excess of policy limits, then the later they discover that defendant has died, the more likely it is they'll miss the deadline.<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">If the reverse mortgage is going to require opening probate so the house can be sold, then you're stuck opening probate anyway, if the house was in decedent's
name only.<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"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></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>Kristina Driessen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 16, 2018 11:27 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Open a probate or not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper">
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">HI All:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">I am trying to wrap my head around a situation. The decedent had a reverse mortgage whereas they MAY be 100k after all is said and done; depending on the market. The issue is that the decedent
was in an auto accident about 18 months ago. It appears it was a significant accident [the other person was on a motorcycle and had head injuries]. The decedent was sited for what that is worth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">What is the best strategy........open an probate and then discuss with her insurance the status of the accident. Try to talk to the insurance now; no guarantee they will speak to us as no PR
yet. In the last scenario we then let the cat out of the bag that decedent has passed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">My gut says open the probate and investigate more. Any insight?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Kristina Driessen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">A Street Legal Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">253-939-0811<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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