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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Brent,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After probate is closed, the PR has no authority to act on behalf of the estate unless the PR is reappointed by the court and new Letters are issued, the only exceptions being a court order that authorizes the PR to act for specific purposes or the PR reserving authority to deal with income taxes. The creditor’s option is to file a petition to reopen the probate and then sue the estate; they’ll lose on both because they missed the creditors’ claim filing period unless they can prove they were a “reasonably ascertainable creditor”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer C. Rydberg, JD<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>206-550-5491<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Diane J. Kiepe <DJKiepe@depdslaw.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 19, 2021 11:14 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Creditor Claim - No Direct Notice Provided but Probate Closed<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Brent <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It totally makes sense the court clerk allowed the filing bc they really just process what is presented.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I have heard one school of thought is to take no action-this puts the burden on the creditor to demand you reject or pay and trigger the process that follows.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Another school of thought is to reject bc PR has closed estate - this would require the creditor file an objection within 30 days to establish it was a reasonably ascertainable creditor entitled to direct notice and at that point you’d probably advise the client to pay bc after all the answer and appearance will cost more then the claim.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Third option is to have PR pay-if sole beneficiary or main beneficiary this may be the direction the client wants to take to just put it behind him/her.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>In conclusion, it’s a conversation to be had with the client and take direction accordingly<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Oct 19, 2021, at 3:20 PM, Heather de Vrieze <<a href="mailto:heatherd@westseattlelaw.com">heatherd@westseattlelaw.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>My typical response is either to ignore, or reply that the estate is closed. If the Personal Representative has retained funds, payment is an option, but I don’t think required, unless the provider was reasonably ascertainable. Were they sending bills? </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Heather</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><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</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'><image001.jpg><o:p></o:p></span></i></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E'>3909 California Avenue SW</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E'>Seattle, WA 98116-3705 </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E'>(206)938-5500 </span><o:p></o:p></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'> </span><o:p></o:p></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'> </span><o:p></o:p></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><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVriezeCarney"><b><span style='text-decoration:none'><o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:blue'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVriezeCarney"><span style='text-decoration:none'><image002.png></span><span style='color:windowtext;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none'><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:#A6A6A6'> </span><o:p></o:p></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><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><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>Brent Williams-Ruth<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 19, 2021 1:40 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] Creditor Claim - No Direct Notice Provided but Probate Closed<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Greetings Brilliant thinkers - </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Estate closed through Declaration of Completion on May 20, 2021 - effective June 20, 2021. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Creditor Claim filed by our friends at DCM Services on behalf of a cell phone carrier on October 12th. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The Executor did not give actual notice to this phone company, but did publish. There are no facts to be known that would establish why they were not reasonably ascertainable. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I am struggling to see what options exist other than to:</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>1) pay the $340</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>2) ignore the letter because the probate is closed (though interestingly enough, the clerk allowed them to file in the case despite a Declaration of Completion). </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>3) issue a denial where the executor simply provides the affidavit of publication and claims that the creditor period is completed. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Appreciate any thoughts on the matter. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Brent</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><div><p><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Brent Williams-Ruth</span></b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> (pronouns: he/him)<br><i>Attorney-At-Law</i></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal Way, WA 98003</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red'>**EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY**</span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> All mail sent through the USPS should be sent to the following address: PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style='color:#004080'> </span><span style='color:red'>(253) 285-7751</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Direct:<span style='color:red'> (253) 285-7453</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> / <a href="http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/" target="_blank">website</a> /</span><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>facebook</span></a></span><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> / </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>_______________________________________________<br>WSBAPT mailing list<br><a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>