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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I am flexible on this, but virtually always require an advance fee deposit of up to $1500 that will at a minimum cover all costs, and most of my fees to get the probate open and initial required notices handled.
From there, if a client isn’t paying, I am inclined to stop work, or make a payment arrangement long before the fees mount to an amount I am not willing to write off. My fee agreement contemplates replenishment of the advance fee deposit.
<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">Occasionally I will allow clients to make that fee deposit once probate assets are freed up (i.e. letters issued). If there is no cash in the estate, that is all the more reason to get money up front. If they
don’t care enough to come up with cash for the probate, why should I.<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@01D7AECD.23DBE020"></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">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.westseattlelaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">www.westseattlelaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<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:
</span></b><b><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVriezeCarney"><b><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="72" height="21" style="width:.7537in;height:.2164in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D7AECD.23DBE020" alt="FB Logo"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#A6A6A6"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#A6A6A6">CONFIDENTIAL & PRIVILEGED. This e-mail message may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete all copies of this e-mail message and any attachment.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:blue"><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"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Diane J. Kiepe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 21, 2021 9:17 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] when you don't get paid<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Hello all, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">I have been struggling with the issue of not getting paid and just writing things off. I am often willing to advance my time and I know, I know, I have no one to blame but myself. I currently have about
4 people who owe relatively small amounts but one case that I think will owe me close to 10K when all is said and done. I am not sure I can continue to represent the party and cannot afford to write this amount off. It was in the context of a probate but
my engagement letter clearly states the PR is responsible for the fees. The PR is expected to inherit dirt worth substantially more than the amount owed to me but not through the probate but from the same decedent.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">I’m just curious if any of you have any thoughts to share for me. In my 17 years I have had very few no-pays but as my practice grows this problem seems to grow. I hate to insist on a retainer because I
completely understand that some families are relying on the probate/trust assets to pay. I am really just struggling and appreciate any thoughts or directions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Sincerely, Eeyore, I mean Diane.
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">😉</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold"">Diane J. Kiepe<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Diane J. Kiepe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Douglas Eden<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">717 W. Sprague Ave.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Suite 1500<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spokane, WA 99201<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:djkiepe@depdslaw.com">djkiepe@depdslaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">509-455-5300<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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