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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hi Jayne,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I agree that in an ordinary case, and perhaps most especially outside the probate context, what your last sentence describes probably should not work. However, here I think
the “probate/administration specific” analysis of </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">RCW 11.40.040(1) re</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“correspondence received after the date of death” is more on-point and bears consideration. I think this is more about whether the collection agency is a reasonably ascertainable creditor
(by virtue of its demand letter) than what SOL applies or if one has passed or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Admittedly, I am not a frequent litigator, so I don’t view probate administration in the light of “what can I get away with” vs. “what are the known, valid, undisputed claims
that need to be paid to get this resolved ‘cleanly’ to reduce the PR’s and estate’s residual liability.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The key facts to me, here, are that PR received this correspondence after the date of death and before the creditor claim deadline passed, making the new correspondent a
“reasonably ascertainable” creditor under the statute cited above, entitled to a notice and a 30-day period. (I think the “known validity” (or non-validity) and perhaps size of the claim is a relevant factor as well.)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Especially if this is a known, valid, undisputed claim of reasonable size, I do not think a judge would by very sympathetic to the argument that the PR simply ignored the
demand letter received before the deadline, without sending a creditor notice to the collection agency and giving them 30 days to file with the court and PR as required.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">But if the PR chose NOT to send the notice and NOT to just pay the claim under the safe harbor of RCW 11.40.070(4), I also can see where the PR could argue he chose to risk
litigation to avoid paying the claim vs. paying the claim, resting his/her case on his/her earlier notice to the assignor credit card company. The reasonableness of that position likely increases with the amount of the claim (since it would be balanced against
the costs of litigation if the assignee sued). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">So, yes, I could be wrong, and Jeff’s PR could win a dispute in which he ignores the claim and the creditor sues after the deadline has passed. But I sure would want to
weigh the costs of that litigation and the judge’s likely view of what s/he may consider fairly sharp-elbowed tactics in avoiding a known, valid, undisputed claim.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">All my best, Josh<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Joshua D. McKarcher<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">McKarcher Law PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">537 6th Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Clarkston, WA 99403<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3345<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3314 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jayne Gilbert<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, November 9, 2020 1:50 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Probate Notice Sent to Creditor but Collection Agency Responds<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Joshua: Wouldn't the assignee "inherit" the standing of the assignor's claim under the statute of limitations?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">I don't see how a Creditor can receive notice on a certain day, wait, and then at the last minute assign<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">the claim to the collection company, thus extending the statutory bar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, Nov 3, 2020 at 1:05 PM Joshua McKarcher <<a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Jeff,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I vote yes, assuming this is an ordinary, valid, uncontested debt in a solvent estate. In fact, I vote you can
just pay it and be done with it.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">First, the creditor claim period is 4 months, not 90 days, and those receiving “actual notice” have until the
LATER of 30 days from service/mailing date of your notice and the 4 month deadline. RCW 11.40.051(1)(a). (I send my actual notices about 45 days before the publication deadline so I don’t hurt my brain trying to figure it all out. They all then just have “until
the 4 month deadline.”)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Next, I think the fair reading of RCW 11.40 would make this separate legal entity to which the credit card company
has assigned its claim a different, separate creditor that is NOT on notice. So upon receiving the collector’s statement (in “their form”) they have become a reasonably ascertainable creditor. (See “correspondence received after the date of death” in RCW 11.40.040(1).)
They are thus entitled to specific notice; and a “new” 30 days if your 4 month deadline comes earlier.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Or, instead of sending them a notice and seeing if they file formally, the PR of a solvent estate can simply pay
the claim if it is known and valid, and dispense with all the formalities (and formality’s attendant costs). See RCW 11.40.070(4), which is a very sensible addition to the statute.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In a solvent estate with known debts, it is my view that costing the estate money to go through the hoops above
to see if the creditor will “pass the test” is not usually in the estate’s best interest. Assuming the claim was known and valid; assigned; and noticed up to you or your PR in some form before the relevant deadlines, then,
<u>if valid</u>, it should be paid. I think RCW 11.40.070(4) properly balances the relevant considerations.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Going back to a discussion on this list previously about duties owed to creditors or beneficiaries, this is where
I balance the PR’s duty to the beneficiaries of a solvent estate with the clear rights of creditors of solvent estates. If you received that collection letter
<u>after</u> the expiration of the 4 month period, or if the estate was insolvent, then this analysis may be different. But I do not think “actual notice” to the original debt holder is a solid bar to the timely, pre-deadline presentment of a demand for payment
by an assignee, and I wouldn’t want to hang my hat on the argument that it is.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">All the best, Josh</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Joshua D. McKarcher</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">McKarcher Law PLLC</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">537 6th Street</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Clarkston, WA 99403</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3345</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3314 (fax)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com" target="_blank">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>From:</b>
<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jeff Davis<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, November 2, 2020 3:02 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] Probate Notice Sent to Creditor but Collection Agency Responds<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Listmates,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">We provided a Probate Notice to Creditors directly to a credit card company in September, 2020. We recently received a standard collection letter from a collection company to whom
the credit card company had assigned the account. No creditor’s claim was filed or served on me. The 90 day period from the first publication of notice is fast approaching. Question, do I need to send the probate notice to creditor to the collection company?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">W. Jeff Davis, Esq.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">BELL & DAVIS PLLC<br>
P.O. Box 510<br>
Sequim WA 98382<br>
Phone No.:(360) 683.1129 <br>
Fax No.: (360) 683.1258 <br>
email: <a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com" target="_blank">info@bellanddavispllc.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank">www.bellanddavispllc.com</a><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">*************************************************</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Jayne Marsh Gilbert</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Gilbert and Gilbert Lawyers, PS</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">(360) 336-9515</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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