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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Attorneys in WA are prohibited from charging percentage of estate as fees. I would think the Judge would apply the same logic to the PR. This would be a horrible result if
allowed – what if estate is worth $10 million v. an estate worth $10,000? In the alternative, the PR could get agreement from the heirs as to the fees charged and paid with non-intervention powers but the fees must be “reasonable” for the amount of work done.
If the decedent wanted the PR to take a % of the estate as his/her fees, that would have been in the Will if there was one. I have had Judges discount fees when work was done and hours/time tracked based on what the work was – whether it required knowledge
and skill or was cleaning out a garage…<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",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Dalynne Singleton<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D">Gourley Law Group<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D">Snohomish Escrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D">The Exchange Connection<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">1002 10<sup>th</sup> Street Box 13<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Snohomish, WA 98291<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com">dalynne@glgmail.com</a></span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Due to COVID-19, I am working remotely. As a result, I cannot accept any physical messenger service at this time. Please email all pleadings and agreed upon service documents
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thank you very much and stay safe!</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-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>Candace Wilkerson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 2, 2020 8:06 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com>; jeff@bellanddavispllc.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Personal Representative Charges a Percent of the Estate as Personal Representative Fee<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I completely agree. There is no way a commissioner/judge will accept a percentage fee, unless it can be supported by documentation of what’s been done. In my experience PR fees are very carefully examined by the court, especially if there
is an objection to them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Candace Wilkerson<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> <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>Kerry Richards<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 1, 2020 2:03 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a>; WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Personal Representative Charges a Percent of the Estate as Personal Representative Fee<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Dear Jeff:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="color:#1F497D">I do not believe that Washington supports PR fees based upon percentages of the estate. That is a California idea. PR fees must be established by time spent and records kept. Further,
the time spent must be in recognition of the general price to be paid for such services. For example, cleaning out a house would command an unskilled labor rate and banking tasks if they are special may command the charges for a paralegal. Every activity in
between would have varying rates depending upon the task. This sounds like it will go to a hearing where the court can sort it out.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Yours truly,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Kerry A. Richards, Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#002060"><img border="0" width="130" height="42" style="width:1.3541in;height:.4375in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image006.png@01D6C883.FDB225B0"></span><span style="color:#002060"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:black">The Law Offices of Michael W. Bugni & Associates, PLLC</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:black">11300 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98125<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#BF7000">EMAIL:</span><span style="color:black">
</span></b><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:krichards@lawgate.net">krichards@lawgate.net</a></span><span style="color:#6D0065"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:#BF7000">TEL:</span></b><span style="color:#002060">
</span><span style="color:black">206-365-5500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="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>Jeff Davis<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 01, 2020 10:24 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Personal Representative Charges a Percent of the Estate as Personal Representative Fee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a new one for me in over 38 years of practice. Personal Representative does not keep track of time but claims that she and her husband spent hundreds of hours working on behalf of the estate. Put aside the issue of the husband
wanting to be paid for his time from the estate, their attorney is now telling me that the PR can charge, as her fee, 3% of the value of the estate however you figure that out. This probate has been going on for over a year with no inventory or accounting,
yet the estate is ready to close. And yes, I had brought a motion to remove the PR months ago, but put if off as PR was moving ahead with liquidating assets. Your thoughts on the “legality” of the fee?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">W. Jeff Davis, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">BELL & DAVIS PLLC<br>
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