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<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA</strong><br>
<strong>____________________________________________ </strong><br>
<br>
<br>
November 5, 2021<br>
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<br>
Brent,<br>
<br>
RCW 11.48.050- Allowance of necessary expenses- says “He or she shall be allowed all necessary expenses in the care, management, and settlement of the estate.” That is separate and distinct from RCW 11.48.210 that permits the PR to compensate themselves when the testator makes no provision for compensation.<br>
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I believe .050 gives the PR the authority to hire someone to do those tasks that are necessary that they can’t do or don’t want to do. The PR can’t possibly be expected to do everything- the accounting, IRS returns, repair and/ or cleaning of the home, going through papers of deceased, etc.,<br>
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However, whatever fee is charged must be reasonable. To decide what is reasonable, they must consider what they would have to pay a professional for the service being provided. If a relative or lay person is providing the service, they must consider whether the quality of the service is the same as a professional might provide. They may or may not consider making an adjustment to the rate charged.<br>
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If someone local can do the tasks just as easily as a person traveling from out of state, then paying the cost for long distance travel may or may not be reasonable. If everyone is out of state, including the PR, it’s probably reasonable for the PR to delegate the task of flying out of state to inventory tangible items in the home. In your case, if there are others locally who are perfecting capable of being present when a professional can assist, and this beneficiary just wants to be the one, paying for their transport begins to sound less reasonable.<br>
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If I have a PR who seems to be pushing the limit of reasonableness, I remind them that the PR is expected to be a good steward of the estate’s assets and that reimbursement for expenses must be approved by the court. Also, that other beneficiaries can challenge expenses being charged to the estate. So, I encourage them to give thought to the reasonableness of an expense in order to avoid the expenditure for legal time to help them address the issue if an expense is challenged and to avoid the risk of having an expense declined by the court.<br>
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If travel is involved, I encourage the PR to combine tasks to minimize trips – so cleaning the house when coming to town to meet with the estate’s attorney, etc. When deciding whether to seek reimbursement for compensation of some sort, the PR should consider whether other beneficiaries are flexible or whether they are generally, not very generous and perhaps not willing to give much latitude. Some families are grateful someone is willing to take on the PR role, and others think the wrong person was chosen and are not cooperative.<br>
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I can only recall one case where I did some research and provided the PR caselaw (from tax court) that discussed expenses that <strong><em>the IRS</em></strong> rejected. <br>
<br>
andrekita<br>
Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva<br>
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2000<br>
Seattle, Washington 98101<br>
206-224-8288<br>
www.seattle-silvalaw.com<br>
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Quoting Brent Williams-Ruth <<a href="mailto:brent@williams-ruthlaw.com">brent@williams-ruthlaw.com</a>>:</p>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Thank you. I can clarify that the Will makes no reference to anything other than debts of the testator and taxes; and then in the paragraph for non-intervention there is a statement that the Executor has all the power under the law of Washington to settle the estate. Which is why I was curious if there was any other statute that relates to non-executor expenses. Would it possibly fall into the category of a "vendor" just like the Executor can hire people and companies - such as it would be impossible to distribute tangible property without beneficiaries being present and thus can reimburse travel expenses?</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"> </div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Thoughts?</div>
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<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></p>
<p><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><font size="1">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</font></span></b></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></p>
<p><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><font color="#FF0000">**EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY**</font> All mail sent through the USPS should be sent to the following address: </span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b></p>
<p><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><font color="#FF0000">(253) 285-7751</font></span></p>
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<div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 12:13 PM Diane J. Kiepe <<a href="mailto:DJKiepe@depdslaw.com">DJKiepe@depdslaw.com</a>> wrote:</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16pt">Hi Brent,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><span style="font-size:16pt"><u> </u></span></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><span style="font-size:16pt">Did you check the Will to see if there is any language, our forms have some standard language that leave such a payment up to the discretion of the PR – we also have a general, the PR can take all actions to administer the estate whether necessary or not to protect a claim that some work was done that was not necessary if no language, I would be hesitant (but not necessary preclusive) to reimburse those type fees. For my family, I would be happy to have one of my parents estate pay such fees – but in some of the families I represent one child would scream “foul” and probably get attorneys involved over such a payment.</span></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-size:16pt"><u> </u></span></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-size:16pt">All the best and Happy Friday!</span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-size:16pt"><u> </u></span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><i><span style='font-family:"Script MT Bold"'>Diane J. Kiepe</span></i></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><i><span style='font-family:"Script MT Bold"'><u> </u></span></i></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>Diane J. Kiepe</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>Douglas Eden</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><a href="mailto:djkiepe@depdslaw.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">djkiepe@depdslaw.com</span></a></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>509-455-5300</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-size:16pt"><u> </u></span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of</b> Brent Williams-Ruth<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:36 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Payment of Expenses to Non-Executor</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Greetings List - </span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u> </u></span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">I have a situation where one of the residual beneficiaries of an estate is seeking reimbursement for their travel expenses associated with coming into town to go through tangible items of the estate. Have reviewed 11.48 et seq but am not seeing guidance for payment to non-executor/pr type people. </span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u> </u></span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Appreciate any guidance. </span></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><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></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal Way, WA 98003</span></b></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><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></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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