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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Diane,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The primary reason I am no longer a solo attorney and never plan to be again is because of losing many thousands as a result of non-paying clients (and I only did it for 5 years)!
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Take a retainer, even for small projects, and make it an evergreen retainer (to be replenished before further work is done). This is the best advice I ever received, but I didn’t listen to it. If the person can’t afford the retainer,
you don’t want the work anyway. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Feel free to let me know if you would like to discuss off-list. You are welcome to the benefit of what I learned!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Candace Wilkerson<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>*Candace is available to respond to emails and phone calls between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you have an urgent matter outside that time period, please call our office at the number below.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="206" height="61" style="width:2.1458in;height:.6354in" id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:image001.png@01D7AEE4.C1D04F70"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Top Ranked Law Firm for 2015 by Fortune Magazine and American Lawyer Media</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Candace Wilkerson<b> |</b> Senior Associate</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:red"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848">|
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Wong Fleming </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Note new address as of 8/30/2021</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">9840 Willows Road NE, Suite 200
</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848">| </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Redmond, WA 98052</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Phone: 425.869.4040 </span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848">|</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Fax: 425.869.4050 <br>
</span><a href="mailto:cwilkerson@wongfleming.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">cwilkerson@wongfleming.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:black">Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Wong Fleming, please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<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>Diane J. Kiepe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 21, 2021 12:17 PM<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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