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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">PR's duty is to try to locate the heirs using due diligence, in order to give them notice. Note, the PR's duty is not to actually provide notice. If due diligence
can't locate them, their rights may still be cut off. I'm not sure if that has been definitively ruled in the context of a will contest, but it has been in context of other rights of heirs in relation to a probate administration.<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">So, depending on budget--hire an investigator and/or an heir finder. Also ask all known heirs, acquaintances, etc., to see if anyone has possible contact information
for the missing heirs. If all of that fails, thoroughly document all efforts to locate and submit that as a Declaration into the probate file, so there is a clear record of PR's efforts to find all heirs and give notice.<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">See
<u>In re Estate of Little</u>, 127 Wn.App. 915, 921, 113 P.3d 505 (2005); <u>In re Estate of Walker</u>, 10 Wn.App. 925, 930, 521 P.2d 43 (1974);
<u>Hesthagen v. Harby</u>, 78 Wn.2d 934, 942, 481 P.2d 438 (1971).<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>
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<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>
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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>James Bates<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 30, 2019 2:58 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Missing Heirs<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"">Opened an estate and admitted will in which two parties that would be intestate heirs, but for the Will, are MIA. Maybe I’m getting too worked up over my former state’s
practice and procedure, but what is the general opinion regarding lack to notice of admission of the Will to someone who would have a right to contest the will? RCW 11.24.010 seems to set a hard bar of four months and 11.28.237 does appear to give an out
if addresses are unknown. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">James Bates, Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Luce & Associates, P.S.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Tacoma, WA 98424<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">T: (253) 922-8724<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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