<html dir="ltr">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style>
<!--
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math"}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri}
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{margin-right:0in;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif}
span.EmailStyle18
{font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext}
span.EmailStyle19
{font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext}
.MsoChpDefault
{font-size:10.0pt}
@page WordSection1
{margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in}
-->
</style><style type="text/css" id="owaParaStyle">
<!--
-->
</style><script id="spHTMLFormElementPrototypeScript">(function()
{
try
{
var sp_old_HTMLFormElementPrototype_submit = HTMLFormElement.prototype.submit;
HTMLFormElement.prototype.submit = function(AEvent)
{
try
{
var spEvent = document.createEvent('Event');
spEvent.initEvent('sp_submit', true, true);
this.dispatchEvent(spEvent);
}
catch(ErrorMessage)
{
console.error('spFormElementPrototype() Error sending "sp_submit" event from HTMLFormElement.prototype.submit: ' + ErrorMessage);
}
sp_old_HTMLFormElementPrototype_submit.apply(this);
};
}
catch(ErrorMessage)
{
console.error('spFormElementPrototype() Error attaching to HTMLFormElement.prototype.submit: ' + ErrorMessage);
}
try
{
if (typeof __doPostBack == 'function')
{
var sp_old__doPostBack = __doPostBack;
__doPostBack = function(eventTarget, eventArgument)
{
try
{
var spEvent = document.createEvent('Event');
spEvent.initEvent('sp_submit', true, true);
window.dispatchEvent(spEvent);
}
catch(ErrorMessage)
{
console.error('spFormElementPrototype() Error sending "sp_submit" event from __doPostBack(): ' + ErrorMessage);
}
sp_old__doPostBack(eventTarget, eventArgument);
};
}
}
catch(ErrorMessage)
{
console.error('spFormElementPrototype() Error attaching to __doPostBack(): ' + ErrorMessage);
}
})();</script>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="" fpstyle="1" ocsi="0">
<div style="direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="direction:ltr; font-family:Tahoma; color:#000000; font-size:10pt">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Others answered on the creditor notice issue and I agree with them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">On the CIR issue, the non-spouse partner has no statutory right to notice because the case law is clear that when a statute says "spouse or domestic partner" it means only a lawful spouse or a state-registered
domestic partner, and not a committed intimate partner. That said, the PR is going to have to deal with the CIR partner, so it's probably a good idea to at least keep open a channel of communication and provide courtesy copies of documents that seem relevant.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A CIR partner's claim to an equitable division of "community-like" property is not subject to the creditor claim process; it is more of an inventory issue. The PR ultimately has to take a stance, in the inventory,
on what property belonged to the decedent. Because the CIR survivor does not inherit, the CIR survivor will be intensely interested in determining what belongs to the decedent and what belongs to the survivor.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">That said--with a CIR relationship and substantial assets involved, there is a reasonable likelihood that some kind of transaction between the partners during life could be construed as a general debt owing
to the survivor that <i>would</i> be subject to the creditor claim process. So the CIR survivor is likely a "reasonably ascertainable creditor" and it might be best, in most circumstances, to serve them with the Notice to Creditors and foreclose that possibility.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The full duties re equitable division of community-like property when one partner is deceased aren't spelled out in case law yet, but I generally think that the PR should evaluate what assets are community-like,
and if possible work with the surviving CIR partner to determine an equitable division. It's clear that the Estate must determine an equitable division as part of the inventory process. If they can't agree on an equitable division, then the PR may need to
start a TEDRA to get court approval of a proposed division.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Note that "equitable division" has not been well-defined yet, in the context where one of the CIR partners is deceased. The normal factors for equitable division are drawn by analogy from the divorce statute,
which has a lot of factors looking to the financial situation and prospects of each spouse going forward. Obviously those factors, which are central in a divorce "equitable division," aren't present for the deceased party to a CIR division. (This situation
doesn't arise in divorces because a divorce action terminates automatically at death and, the parties remain married, and the inheritance statutes will govern transfer of property from the decedent.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The legal procedure also isn't settled yet, I don't think. I haven't had to do this yet, but my preliminary thought is that it should be equally valid to address in either of two ways: by a TEDRA action as
an inventory issue, or by a standard "division of CIR property" lawsuit as any family lawyer would do. TEDRA is probably a faster method, but if there are a lot of disputed assets and a need for extensive discovery then perhaps the standard litigation track
would provide more room and time for addressing all issues.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Some relevant cases:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.6667px"><u>Olver v. Fowler</u> 161 Wn.2d 655, 168 P.3d 348 (2007)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.6667px"><u>In re Estate of Langeland</u> (<u>Drown v. Boone</u>), 177 Wn.App. 315, 312 P.3d 657 (2013),
<u>review denied</u>, 180 Wn.2d 1009 (2014), and second appeal after remand decisions,
<u>In re Estate of Langeland</u>, 195 Wn.App. 74, 380 P.3d 573 (2016)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailAutoSig"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sincerely,</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Eric</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Eric C. Nelsen</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">1417 31st Ave South</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Seattle WA 98144-3909</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">206-625-0092</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""></span><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com" target="_blank"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></span><span style=""></span></a><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt; background:aqua">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone; please call the Seattle office. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate
planning documents can be completed and will be handled on a case-by-case basis; please call the Seattle office.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">MAIL AND DELIVERIES can be received at the Seattle office. For any other needed arrangements, please call the Seattle office.</span></span></p>
</div>
<span style=""></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none; border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt; padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailOriginal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">From:</span></b></a><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Nicholas Pleasants<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 14, 2020 6:43 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] PR Duty to Respond to Potential Creditors?</span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hello fellow probate practitioners,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I have a couple probate hypotheticals for consideration.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">First situation: Let’s say a creditor was provided Notice to Creditors, the 4-months since publication has passed and the 30-days from delivery to creditor has passed. Now creditor sends a letter
asking for a copy of the Notice to Creditors. I don’t want to restart the RCW 11.40.030 clock, giving them another month to respond. Does PR have a duty to respond to this potential creditor at all?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Second situation: Let’s say decedent may have been in a meretricious relationship. Is the non-spouse partner entitled to any notice of the probate? Let’s say non-spouse is not mentioned in the
Will at all, not a co-owner of decedent’s real property, but possibly there is some tangible personal property owned together. How about notice to creditors as a potential claimant? Obviously PR does not want to encourage potential claimant, and only wants
to provide notice as strictly required by statute. Also wondering whether non-spouse partner has any right to request special notice?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I realize that second situation is a bit trickier, as the interplay between Committed Intimate Relationship doctrine and Probate is interesting. I am curious from a notice standpoint what responses
you might advise PR to give in these situations. Thanks in advance for any experience you can share.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Best,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Nick</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:#2B6AA4">Nicholas Pleasants</span></b></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:black"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:black">Pleasants Law Firm, P.S.<br>
2300 130th Ave NE, Suite A-101<br>
Bellevue, WA 98005-1755<br>
(425) 615-7070 tel/fax<br>
</span></span><a href="mailto:nick@pleasantslaw.com" target="_blank"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:#00006A">nick@pleasantslaw.com</span></span><span style=""></span></a><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:black"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:8.0pt; color:black">The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged and is confidential information intended only for the use of the recipient, or any employee or agent responsible
to deliver it to the intended recipient. Any unauthorized use, distribution or copying of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.</span></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:black"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:8.0pt; color:black">If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the original message and all attachments from your electronic files.</span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>