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<p class="MsoNormal">Yep, still just the PR. Only the PR can bring a wrongful death claim, regardless of who inherits the Estate. RCW 4.20.010. ‘Way back when, the statute used to allow heirs
<b><i>or</i></b> the PR to bring the action, but that was eliminated from the statute in 1917. Since then, it is only the PR who has standing.
<u>Atchison v. Great Western Malting Co.</u>, 161 Wn.2d 372, 376, 166 P.3d 662 (2007),
<u>citing</u> <u>e.g.</u>, <u>Beal v. City of Seattle</u>, 134 Wash.2d 769, 776, 954 P.2d 237 (1998);
<u>Huntington v. Samaritan Hosp.</u>, 101 Wn.2d 466, 469, 680 P.2d 58 (1984).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Note that wrongful death proceeds do not belong to the estate and do not pass by Will, so the Will’s disinheritance of spouse has no bearing. Wrongful death proceeds belong directly to the statutory beneficiaries under RCW 4.20.020: the
spouse and children. This can be awkward if the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse’s child don’t get along; the PR still is the only allowed plaintiff, and the spouse still receives a share of wrongful death proceeds. Allocation of proceeds between spouse
and children is not clearly defined and subject somewhat to the PR’s reasonable discretion, so there is room for misbehavior and argument about who gets how much.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b>All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please
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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>Rachel Bender<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 2, 2021 3:19 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Wrongful death / probate<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-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Hi all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Spouse A prepared a Will, naming her adult child as beneficiary and specifically "cutting out" Spouse B. Child is named Personal Representative. However, there is no separate property
- only community property owned by Spouse A and B together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Spouse A dies. Spouse B wants to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of estate. Would PR still be the only person able to file a wrongful death claim even though there is no separate
estate and everything now belongs to Spouse B? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">I guess my question is, if there is no separate estate to manage, does the named PR still have the power to bring claims or can the surviving spouse represent estate in wrongful death
claim?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">I'm assuming it's still PR, but wanted to check.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Rachel R. Bender |
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Member, Attorney</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span></i><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Bender Law PLLC</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
1001 Fourth Avenue<b> | </b>Suite 4400 <b>|</b> Seattle, WA 98154<br>
<b>Reception</b>: 206.577.7987 <b>| Direct</b>: 206.389.1744 <b>|</b> <b>Fax</b>: 206.693.4365</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><a href="http://www.bender-law.com" target="_blank">www.bender-law.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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