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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Jennifer,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">As to situation #1: Yes, proceed with the probate as usual. I wouldn’t make any partial distributions. When you are ready to close, utilize the declaration of completion with distribution in 5 days
(after the 30 days). In that scenario, you lay out in the notice and declaration the “no less than amount” that each beneficiary is to receive. IF no one contests, then have PR distribute the final checks. IF jailbird contests, then set it for hearing with
your reasoning in the petition. I would send a letter along with the notices that reminds them that contesting by anyone will reduce the amount available to distribute because fees for the PR and the PR’s attorney will be increased. Since this beneficiary
has documented violent behavior, DO NOT meet with him in person (should he be sprung from the clink). Handle distribution via mail OR if in person perhaps at the courthouse where he will have been screened by security.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">As to situation #2: SSI and SSDI are very different programs. SSI is needs based and inheritance impacts. SSDI does not. It is generally HIS responsibility to report receipts of incoming assets
to authorities if that is a requirement of the program under which he receives benefits. What does your PR know about his situation? Your PR client is not generally the enforcer, but you want to make sure that you pay out to the correct legal party. If he
has a guardian, then it’s probably not him. Do you have any information that he is under a guardianship? Does he have a representative payee or a DPOA? You can approach the court for direction with a petition for instruction. He obviously has some wherewithal
if he has email and is demanding that you give him his $$$$. Unless he has some restriction on receiving it (i.e. guardian) then he may be entitled to the payout.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Recommendations for coping resources? Bourbon and TUMS (though not at the same time). If you want a more holistic approach, yoga or meditation. Sometimes I find a trip to the gun range is very cathartic.
Above all, stay calm and don’t feed into your PR client’s anxiety about their dysfunctional heir(s). They look to you as the “rock” of the proceeding. You do this every day (deal with jerks) and your PR may only do this once in a lifetime. Explain the legal
“process” as well as steps that you will take in handling whatever comes “what if’s” from the difficult party. If a beneficiary is abusive to your PR, then have the PR direct all communications through you.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Good luck! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold";mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Jennifer L. White, Esq.</span><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold";mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><img width="105" height="105" style="width:1.0958in;height:1.0958in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D68D01.81F0BD50"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:jen@appletreelaw.com"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">jen@appletreelaw.com</span></a><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">PO Box 11037<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Yakima, WA 98909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">509.225.9813<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jennifer Gellner<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 17, 2020 1:15 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Contentious Heirs<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Hi All:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">I have two cases where my PR’s and I are dealing with contentious heirs. Does anyone know of a good resource for helping me help my PR’s deal with problem heirs?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Heir is in jail, dad’s will disinherited him, but mom’s intestate estate was never probated and she had some separate property when she passed in 2007.
Heir in jail is unlikely to agree to the percentage of the house sale proceeds that we think is his share based on community and separate property and mom’s intestacy. Do we just proceed with the probate and he will receive a check and the notice of declaration
of completion of probate and once the 30 days pass, it is done? Heir is back in jail because he punched the other heir and was arrested (PR is family friend as two heirs are felons).</span><o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Heir is on SSI and/or SSDI in another state and homeless. I sent a letter to his email advising him that he needs to make arrangements before we distribute
(he wants money now!) so his benefits will not be impacted and he threatened that he will press charges if I ever contacted him again (obviously I don’t think that would be successful, but ideally we can handle this in the best way possible). Do we just proceed
and send him a check and the notice – do we involve the Court requesting instruction even though we have nonintervention powers? Two brother heirs are harassing sister PR.</span><o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Any help is greatly appreciated.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jennifer A. Gellner, LL.M. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Principal, Gellner Law Group<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P: (425) 235-5535 Toll-Free: (877) 252-0738<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">E: <a href="mailto:jennifer@gellnerlawgroup.com">jennifer@gellnerlawgroup.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8407 S. 259th St. Suite 203, Kent, WA 98030<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">505 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 500, Spokane, WA 99201<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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