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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Esteemed Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I had a question about issuing a letter to the title company regarding estate taxes in a transaction involving the sale of real property owned by the estate. I was recently asked by a title company to issue such a letter. Normally, it is fairly straightforward for me to issue such a letter expressing that based on the assets of the estate, whether I, as the attorney for the estate, believes that the estate would or would not be subject to estate / succession taxes at either the federal or state levels. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, I currently have a case where there are claims by the estate against third parties that may be sizable and which could potentially subject the estate to state and federal taxes if the estate were to successfully recover on these claims. If the claims or the recovery is unsuccessful, the estate would not likely be subject to state and federal taxes. We likely will not know for sure until quite some time in the future. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m therefore a little stumped as to how to approach this. Does anyone have experience with a similar situation and if so, how did you address and resolve it? Thanks in advance for your input. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Warmest regards,<br><br></span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:purple'>Michael S. Safren, Esq.</span></b> <b><br></b><i>Attorney at Law</i> <br><br>14900 Interurban Ave. S., Ste. 280 | Seattle, WA 98168 <br>11900 NE 1st St., Bldg. G - Ste. 300 | Bellevue, WA 98005 <br>P: (206) 859-5098 | E: <a href="mailto:msafren@jennylinglaw.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>msafren@jennylinglaw.com</span></a> <br><u><a href="http://www.jennylinglaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.jennylinglaw.com</span></a></u> | <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jennylinglaw/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>facebook.com/jennylinglaw/</span></a></u> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>This communication, including attachments, may contain information that is confidential and protected by the attorney/client or other privileges. It constitutes non-public information intended to be conveyed only to the designated recipient(s). If the reader or recipient of this communication is not the intended recipient, an employee or agent of the intended recipient who is responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, or you believe that you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and promptly delete this e-mail, including attachments without reading or saving them in any manner. The unauthorized use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this e-mail, including attachments, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Receipt by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is not a waiver of any attorney/client or other privilege.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>