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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Bruce & Jeannie:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">These potential clients need to consult with an Elder Law attorney who is familiar with the Medicaid lien law and how to settle with the Office of Financial Recovery. I recommend searching on the Washington
Academy of Elder Law Attorneys website: waela.org/find-a-lawyer for someone on the West side to assist your clients.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The lien cannot be enforced against a surviving spouse when they are inheriting from the obligor spouse. If the home is going to be sold the surviving spouse should ask for the lien to be removed prior to
closing. They should also file the proper affidavit of lack of probate and the spouse’s death certificate with the auditor to claim that share, if they are going to continue residing there.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ordinarily, OFR files its lien and that is the last that the families hear from them. The State just waits until the property changes hands in a sale and collects the lien from closing. I recommend that clients
carefully document the ownership shares in the property and get an appraisal to show the market value at date of death. They should also document any mortgage debt on the property at the date of death and if the decedent was the obligor or co-obligor on the
mortgage. If the other owners pay for any post death expenses: medical bills, funerals, burials, cremations, they should also keep records of those expenditures. Then they can then reduce the lien value to the actual value of the decedent’s share of the property
at the time of sale, possibly years later. Without documentation at the time of death, it is often hard to come up with the information later.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Jane.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jane G. Bitz<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of Counsel<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">12209 E. Mission Ave, Suite 5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spokane Valley, WA 99206-4824<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(509) 927-9700 x126<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">FAX: (509) 777-1800<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="191" height="96" style="width:1.9895in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D6EB3F.B8892130" alt="image001 (4)"></span><span style="color:black"><img width="115" height="100" style="width:1.1979in;height:1.0416in" id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image003.png@01D6EB3F.B8892130"><img width="273" height="96" style="width:2.8437in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D6EB3F.B8892130"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#2F5496">THE CONTENTS OF THIS ELECTRONIC MAIL ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROTECTED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR OTHER APPLICABLE PROTECTION.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#2F5496">
Any review, use, distribution or disclosure by others is strictly prohibited. <u>
If you have received this electronic mail in error</u>, <b>PLEASE NOTIFY ME BY E-MAIL, FAX OR TELEPHONE and PROMPTLY DELETE</b> this electronic mail. This mail cannot be modified without express written consent of Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, PLLC. Thank You.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><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>Bruce Moen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 15, 2021 12:45 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Representation re DSHS lien in decedent's estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Jeannie,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let me know if you find someone and I’ll do the same.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe one lawyer could take both cases.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> -Bruce Moen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></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> <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>Jeannie OBrien<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 15, 2021 11:37 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Representation re DSHS lien in decedent's estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have a similar situation with a south Seattle family. There is no lien filed (no probate), but the decedent’s son received the DSHS questionnaire asking questions, and I don’t know how to instruct him on how to answer it.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Decedent is the mother who owns a half interest in the real property. No one knew she was receiving Medicaid benefits. There were no nursing home benefits paid.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Surviving the mother and living in the very small house are two of her sons, a daughter -in-law, and two of her grandchildren. I know that a disabled descendant can have the collection of the lien stayed, but none of the current residents
are disabled. And it is a third, non-resident son who is on title. There is also an outstanding mortgage on the property.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyone out there that can take a call on this case?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1F497D">Jeannie O'Brien, Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.selanderobrien.com_&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=QdyRUSI4IjN8jHONJV63CB7QV6AxGix1TpuYc8c6Rww&m=-vl_Tl6yNE8uGgUTWvmkF-9q6wCO3jFWujCkVlsR0qs&s=zBWpbR15E0-R4T3EpVlxKOw-O-bxI_CDYq42UHPV7aM&e="><span style="color:blue">www.SelanderOBrien.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">3829C South Edmunds Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Seattle, WA 98118<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">(206) 723-8200 ofc<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">(206) 723-3829 fax<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="190" height="28" style="width:1.9791in;height:.2916in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image005.png@01D6EB3F.B8892130" alt="Logo2a"></span></b><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times;color:#1F497D">Thank you for your patience and understanding while Selander O’Brien abides by the conditions imposed in Phase 2 of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. We are seeing
clients in the office for short meetings, and continue to schedule phone conferences when longer discussions are necessary.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times;color:#1F497D">This message is private or privileged. If you are not the person for whom this message is intended, please delete it and notify me immediately, and do not copy or
send this message to anyone else. </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<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>Bruce Moen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 15, 2021 9:06 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Representation re DSHS lien in decedent's estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am seeking a lawyer to respond to a DSHS lien on a decedent's interest in a residence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The basis of the lien were public benefits that the decedent received from the State of Washington.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The decedent owned an undivided one-third interest in a residence with her grandson and spouse. They owned the remaining two-thirds interest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The amount of the DSHS lien likely exceeds the value of the one-third interest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The potential client would be the grandson and spouse. The goal of the representation is to save the residence from a foreclosure by DSHS.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyone interested?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bruce Moen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">____________ <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bruce R. Moen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Moen Law Offices PS<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">601 Union Street, Suite 3232<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle, WA 98101-2331<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-441-1156 x2<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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