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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Every such bill that is received prior to the end of the claim period should be evaluated to insure that the original creditor received notice. A bill from a collection company is not a claim, and is not required
to be paid by the Personal Representative. Sometimes I reply to these bills directly with a letter along the lines of “your client received formal notice of their rights under Washington law and their options if they wanted to be paid. A copy of that notice
is enclosed.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">It doesn’t mean the Personal Representative can’t pay these, but they are only obligated to pay (or negotiate or reject) claims which are properly and timely submitted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Vladimir Script";color:#1F497D">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="189" height="105" style="width:1.9701in;height:1.0895in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D77EF9.3133E500"></span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">3909 California Avenue SW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">Seattle, WA 98116-3705
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">(206)938-5500
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:heatherd@westseattlelaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">heatherd@westseattlelaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002E8A">Click here to connect with de Vrieze | Carney on Facebook:
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Nyala;color:#C00000">For the months of July and August 2021, our firm will be open Monday through Thursday 8:30am to 5pm. We will be closed Fridays.</span><span style="font-family:Nyala;color:red"><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>Ms. Roberta Armstrong<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 22, 2021 8:30 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Collection Bills Handled as Creditor's Claim?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Good day!<br>
<br>
PR correctly sent out notice to ascertained creditors and public notice to all other creditors.
<br>
<br>
A collection company sent a bill to Decedent's address for a cable bill unknown to PR. The bill was not filed with the court or sent to the PR; however, it was sent within the claim period.<br>
<br>
PR is ready to pay claims, and I'm unsure if the PR should pay the bill. The collection bill only has the amount owed and the cable company's name, no other details. PR believes the bill is due to the cable being left on since Decedent's death.<br>
<br>
Additionally, collection companies have sent bills to the Decedent's address for many of the ascertained creditors who were given actual notice. These bills were not filed with the court or sent to the PR as a claim against the estate but are within the claim
period.<br>
<br>
Since there are quite a few Decedent's bills sent to collection agencies and not properly filed as a creditor's claim, how should they be handled?
<br>
<br>
I appreciate any guidance you can provide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Roberta<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Ms. Roberta Armstrong (425) 737-5448</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#60BF00"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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