<html><head></head><body><div class="ydpf251a7eeyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Hi Listmates -</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Client's husband had a separate account with an investment company. There was no beneficiary designation but there is a procedure for a transfer of the account to the spouse. The catch is that even though this is a small estate and the spouse has completed a small estate affidavit, the investment company requires a Medallion Signature Guarantee, which can only be gotten through a participating bank. Key Bank is a participating bank, but refuses to accept the Small Estate Affidavit as sufficient evidence that the spouse is a valid claiming successor. The bank, despite having had the spouse as a customer for 20+ years, wants some of court order. The cost of a probate (to get Letters Testamentary) would practically make it useless to make the claim. Is anyone aware of a way to get an Order from the court in a Small Estate process that says she's a proper claiming successor? The Bank claims the statutory provisions about the obligations of a holder to honor the Affidavit don't apply to it because it isn't actually a holder of the asset. Ideas appreciated.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Thanks</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Tom</div><div><br></div><div class="ydpf251a7eesignature"><div style="font-family:garamond, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><font size="3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:system;"><font size="2" style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:arial;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"><i><font size="3">Law Office of Thomas J. Fiscus</font><br>Box 1167<var id="ydp58615394yui-ie-cursor"></var></i></span></font></span></font></div><div><font size="3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:system;"><font size="2" style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:arial;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"><i>Eastsound, WA 98245</i></span></font></span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:system;"><font size="2" style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:arial;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"><i>Ph 360-376-3988<br>WSBA # 44741<span>
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