<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Garamond;
panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">My experience is that DSHS will release its lien if the surviving spouse is selling the property, but they have always required that we provide a bona fide offer and closing date. They file a release of the
lien just before closing is scheduled. I have never seen a lien release for the surviving spouse under the circumstances you describe.<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">However, we don’t ordinarily probate the deceased spouse’s estate because qualification for Medicaid requires all of the couple’s assets to be transferred into the name of the non-applicant spouse. (Except
for one checking account with less than $2,000 in it.)<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">Once the lien is released, it does not ‘follow’ the surviving spouse or show up in his or her later probate, etc.<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">Jane.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#4472C4">Jane G. Bitz</span></b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">Of Counsel | Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">Helping Good People do Great Things!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">12209 E. Mission Ave., Suite 5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">Spokane Valley, WA 99206<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">(509) 927-9700 (Phone)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">(509) 777-1800 (Fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#4472C4"><a href="mailto:jbitz@whc-attorneys.com"><span style="color:#4472C4">jbitz@whc-attorneys.com</span></a> [Email]</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F4E79"><a href="http://www.wolffandhislop.com/"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79">www.whc-attorneys.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="136" height="164" style="width:1.4166in;height:1.7083in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D832FB.B816ED40" alt="signatureLogo"></span><span style="color:black"><img border="0" width="80" height="70" style="width:.8333in;height:.7291in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D832FB.B816ED40"></span><span style="color:black"><img border="0" width="201" height="71" style="width:2.0937in;height:.7395in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D832FB.B816ED40"></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">THE CONTENTS OF THIS ELECTRONIC MAIL ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROTECTED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR OTHER APPLICABLE PROTECTION. Any review, use, distribution
or disclosure by others is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic mail in error, PLEASE NOTIFY ME BY E-MAIL, FAX OR TELEPHONE and PROMPTLY DELETE this electronic mail. This mail cannot be modified without the express written consent of
Wolff, Hislop, & Crockett, PLLC. Thank You.</span></i><o:p></o:p></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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Sarah McCarthy<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 8, 2022 1:21 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Release of DSHS Real Property Lien<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">How interesting. Please reply to the list!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p style="margin:0in"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Sarah O’Farrell McCarthy</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">(Pronouns: she / her)<br>
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Attorney | <span style="color:black">
Kelly, Arndt & Walker, Attorneys at Law, PLLP</span></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">P.O. Box 290 | 6443 Harding Avenue | Clinton, WA 98236</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">(Located on Whidbey Island, Island County, Washington)<br>
Phone: (360) 341-1515 | Fax: (360) 341-3272</span><span style="color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><a href="mailto:sarah@kawlawyers.com">sarah@kawlawyers.com</a></span><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="color:black">|
<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kawlawyers.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C10272932235a44a8186c08da014ae76c%7C30561d3794344066948c5e35aee62621%7C0%7C0%7C637823718481689243%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=sshg6nknuBLUXMR8YE%2F%2FsXd4QeKF6ARZbz8p5iaosS0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.kawlawyers.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">This electronic message transmission contains information from the law firm of Kelly, Arndt & Walker, PLLP which may be confidential or privileged. This information
is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above, If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any further review, disclosure, printing, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this transmission is prohibited. If you
have received this electronic message transmission in error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete the original message. Thank you</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#44546A">We do not accept service of any kind by e-mail unless expressly authorized in writing by the attorney of record. This e-mail is NOT a contract and is not binding
upon the author pursuant to CR 2A. This e-mail is, at most, a negotiation under ER 408.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, Mar 8, 2022 at 1:09 PM Jake Seegmuller <<a href="mailto:jake@nwlegacylaw.com">jake@nwlegacylaw.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in">
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black">Hello learned colleagues,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black">We are assisting the surviving spouse (husband) administer the estate of their deceased spouse (wife). The primary asset of the deceased spouse’s estate
is her community property interest in a home owned with the husband – both names on title. DSHS filed a Notice and Statement of Lien in October of 2020 for about $50k. Husband initiated probate proceedings and timely filed a Family Support Award to defeat
some (or all) of the lien. A hearing was set and DSHS properly noticed. Later, DSHS circulated correspondence indicating that stated that they will release their lien without issue if the husband removes the wife’s name from the property through a deed transfer.
The department specifically cited a “Lack of Probate Affidavit” as a mechanism by which to circumvent their lien and the would release it.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black">I was not aware that DSHS would release the lien this easily. Have others had experience with this?
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black">This raises some interesting questions: If husband removes wife from title and the department releases the lien upon recording and delivery of a copy of
the recorded deed to the department (as indicated in the letter), is the lien avoided? And can this claim follow husband or reappear at his death? Is there a potential the DSHS representative is misstating DSHS’s position on this?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:black">Thanks in advance for your insights on this.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:3.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3C3F44"><img border="0" width="96" height="77" style="width:1.0in;height:.802in" id="gmail-m_8410451384069991768Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image005.png@01D832FB.B882F580"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:2.25pt .75pt .75pt .75pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:14.25pt">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#002554"> Jakob O. Seegmuller</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:14.25pt">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#002554"> Attorney</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnwlegacylaw.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C10272932235a44a8186c08da014ae76c%7C30561d3794344066948c5e35aee62621%7C0%7C0%7C637823718481689243%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=zW3vVhw81%2Bofcrf5mTipa2ggNGoa7YMlhFV9BxTRYy4%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">nwlegacylaw.com</a> | 360-975-7770</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</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" target="_blank">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmailman.fsr.com%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fwsbapt&data=04%7C01%7C%7C10272932235a44a8186c08da014ae76c%7C30561d3794344066948c5e35aee62621%7C0%7C0%7C637823718481689243%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=9rSB%2B%2B86cOl9K9t1GtDnRbbeMu4QGmNTA7oqv6DwtfI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>