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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">As another option, how about sending out a new notice under 11.68.112, where you specify what everyone will get in 30 days if there is no objection. That
way the estate gets to keep the funds until the 30 days run. If there’s an objection, the estate has funds to pay for its defense. If there is no objection, it’s a done deal and the money goes out.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">Karl<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">F</span></i><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">LACCUS</span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">
L</span></i><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">A</span></i><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">W</span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">7010 35th Ave. N.E.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">Seattle, Washington 98115<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">206 523-0297</span><span style="color:#222A35"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222A35"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">I</span></i><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222A35">nformation in this e-mail message is privileged, confidential, and intended
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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>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 13, 2021 3:12 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Pro Se Litigant & Questionable Objection to Declaration of Completion of Probate<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RCW 11.68.110 just changed substantively on July 25 (see section 4014 of
<a href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/Senate/5132.SL.pdf">
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/Senate/5132.SL.pdf</a>), which means you are trapped in the limbo of determining retroactive effect. Before July 25, the law said you can file an objection in the probate matter, and it
strongly implies it’s the PR’s obligation to set it for hearing if such an objection is filed. Now, the objection has to be a separately filed TEDRA petition and it’s not the PR’s job to set it for hearing. (I don’t know the answer re retroactivity, I’m just
being “helpful” by complicating the situation further. Sorry about that.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under the old rules, an objection could demand an “accounting” of the Estate. The pro se objection referring to “misused the inheritance” could be construed by the court to be an inartful demand for accounting.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would throw the dilemma into the client’s lap. Explain the two options and the costs/risks involved with each, and let the client decide. My kneejerk inclination is to close and defend later if need be, but I don’t know the personalities
involved here so it’s difficult to assess the risk. In all events I’d want the client’s buy-in to that option: the client has to understand that if they need to defend themselves afterward, they’ll be paying for their defense out of their own pocket; whereas
if they do the accounting etc. to get court approval and discharge, the estate would pay for all that because it’s clearly the PR doing work in discharge of their duties.<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">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</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
direct mail and deliveries to the Seattle office.<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>David Faber<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 13, 2021 2:40 PM<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] Pro Se Litigant & Questionable Objection to Declaration of Completion of 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-size:12.0pt">Good afternoon,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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:12.0pt">I'm working a probate estate and just about ready to close the estate. I filed a Declaration of Completion and served it on the beneficiaries of the estate with notice under RCW 11.68.110(3). With a few days
left in the 30 day period to file a petition seeking an accounting, two of the beneficiaries (representing themselves) filed a pleading they titled "Notice of Objection" which says, in full, "We object to the lack of communication and the manner in which the
personal representative disposed of all the our mothers, family personal belongings and misused the inheritance left for all of us." [sic]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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:12.0pt">RCW 11.68.110(2) expressly states "unless an heir. . . petitions the court [for one of two potential orders]. . . within 30 days of filing a declaration of completion of probate, the personal representative
will be automatically discharged without further order of the court. . ."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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:12.0pt">The beneficiaries have clearly failed to meet the express written requirements of RCW 11.68.110(2) because they did not petition the court for either potential order, instead just noting their objection. Because
they are <i>pro se</i>, however, I'm always worried that the court might look negatively on me ignoring them based upon their technical ignorance/defects. That said, if I were to note this up for a hearing, I think I'd be breaching my ethical obligations to
my client and probably committing malpractice by waiving our defense to their clearly defective pleading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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:12.0pt">I'm writing the list to ask whether anyone has any advice for the proper way to proceed/address such an issue? I do not want to open the door for the beneficiaries to get a bite at the apple that they wouldn't
otherwise have, but I also don't want to direct my client to make final disbursement of the estate assets once the 30 day clock has run only to then have my client (and me) smacked by the court for not being conciliatory to
<i>pro se </i>litigants. My gut is that I should do the latter: ignore, direct disbursement, and defend my client on the basis that no petition was filed if ever I have to defend them, but I just want to suss out whether anyone thinks differently or has other
ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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:12.0pt">Any thoughts?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">David J. Faber<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Faber Feinson PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">800 Polk Street, Suite B<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Port Townsend, WA 98368<br>
(360) 379-4110<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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