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<p class="MsoNormal">Marvin,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wait two years and then do the small estate affidavit. The claims period will have run out (barring any unusual credit terms), so the claimant can honestly say the debts were “provided for.” Of course, a creditor can file a probate if no
one else on the hierarchy files, but I’ve never actually seen it done, much less for a few bucks on a credit card account.
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.051"><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.051</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">Claims against decedent</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">—</span><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">Time limits.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">(1) Whether or not notice is provided under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.020"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.020</span></b></a>,
a person having a claim against the decedent is forever barred from making a claim or commencing an action against the decedent, if the claim or action is not already barred by an otherwise applicable statute of limitations, unless the creditor presents the
claim in the manner provided in RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.070"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.070</span></b></a> within the following time limitations:</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">(a) If the personal representative provided notice under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.020"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.020</span></b></a> and
the creditor was given actual notice as provided in RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.020"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.020</span></b></a>(1)(c), the creditor must present the claim within the later
of: (i) Thirty days after the personal representative's service or mailing of notice to the creditor; and (ii) four months after the date of first publication of the notice;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">(b) If the personal representative provided notice under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.020"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.020</span></b></a> and
the creditor was not given actual notice as provided in RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.020"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.020</span></b></a>(1)(c):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">(i) If the creditor was not reasonably ascertainable, as defined in RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.040"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.040</span></b></a>,
the creditor must present the claim within four months after the date of first publication of notice;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">(ii) If the creditor was reasonably ascertainable, as defined in RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.040"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.40.040</span></b></a>,
the creditor must present the claim within twenty-four months after the decedent's date of death; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">(c) If notice was not provided under this chapter or chapter <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.42"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">11.42</span></b></a> RCW,
the creditor must present the claim within twenty-four months after the decedent's date of death.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">(2) An otherwise applicable statute of limitations applies without regard to the tolling provisions of RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=4.16.190"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">4.16.190</span></b></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">(3) This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent's probate and nonprobate assets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold"">Jennifer L. White, Esq.</span>
<span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="105" height="105" style="width:1.0958in;height:1.0958in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D75704.AB3A2840"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jen@appletreelaw.com"><span style="font-style:normal">jen@appletreelaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif">PO Box 11037<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif">Yakima, WA 98909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif">509.225.9813<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></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>Marvin Benson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 1, 2021 4:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] SEA and homeless beneficiary<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">List mates:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In this case, client lives in a shelter and has no money. His father dies and leaves a 5 K or so bank account but about 3 K in credit card debt.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The small estate affidavit says that the affiant has paid or provided for decedent's debts.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Is there a way around this?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks. Marvin<o:p></o:p></p>
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