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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I agree with Joshua.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I am preparing a motion for fees/costs as administrative expenses when one of the children (there were 4) withheld a Will until a lot of the work was done by another daughter who had no idea there was a Will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I am asking the court for fees/costs incurred by the daughter prior to the Will being filed and PR appointed. I’d love to see any briefing or motions/orders which were filed, and the court allowed costs/fees
to someone other than the newly appointed PR.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Dalynne Singleton</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Joshua McKarcher<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 17, 2022 3:01 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] handling expenses incurred by nominated PR who died before appointment<o:p></o:p></p>
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</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chandra,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In my book, all (valid, reasonable) post-death administrative expenses are expenses of the estate, reimbursable to whoever paid them (by effectively loaning the estate the
funds). Non-lavish funeral expenses, legal fees you describe, and any other fee or cost ordinary for an estate to incur is an administrative expense. I don’t personally think it matter who was the PR or even IF there was a PR at the time it was incurred. If
it was reasonable and necessary to preserve the estate or achieve the appointment of a PR nominated by the decedent’s will or trust, it’s administrative and payable from estate funds to whoever can prove they paid it.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The analysis I run through my brain is this (as with most things in probate/trust land): If I’m standing in front of a judge three days, months, or years from now on a petition
complaining about the administrative expenses paid (or whatever issue), can I (1) justify each expense as being necessary or of benefit to the estate, or so de minimis as to be plainly unworthy of professional fees to “run it to the ground” as for other expenses,
etc., <u>and</u> (2) connect the dots with sufficiently descriptive documents, e.g., invoices (including
<u>contemporaneously</u> handwritten notations on receipts if that’s all we’ve got), check images, credit card receipts, etc.?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In this thought process, I ask myself, “Am I going to put my name on the line to justify this expense?” I will happily question a fiduciary client to ensure they are “satisfying
me” before telling them “Yes, you bet, that seems reasonable to pay from the estate.” Because that’s what I’m going to be saying to the judge in my scenario above.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I hope that helps! Have a good weekend! Best, Josh<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Joshua D. McKarcher<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">McKarcher Law PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">537 6th Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Clarkston, WA 99403<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3345<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3314 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.mckarcherlaw.com">www.mckarcherlaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><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> <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>Chandra Lewnau<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 16, 2022 4:11 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Discussion List <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] handling expenses incurred by nominated PR who died before appointment<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have a probate where it took quite a while to have a PR appointed because the first two corporate nominees were slow to waive the right to serve. Meanwhile, the #3 nominee, who was also Decedent's agent and trustee of a trust he set up,
went ahead and paid for his funeral expenses and some legal fees in trying to get nominated PR 1 and 2 to waive. This person then fell ill and died before being appointed. Her daughter agreed to serve as PR and was appointed by the court. I have 2 questions:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Can I just treat the expenses of the #3 nominee/informal PR who was never formally appointed the same as any other expenses of administration? That is, can the actual PR just pay them from estate funds?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">No probate was opened for the informal PR. The daughter/PR is both her only heir and the successor trustee of her living trust. Can daughter just pay herself, or do I need to do something more to establish that she is paying the proceeds
to the person entitled to them?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#050505">Chandra M. Lewnau</span></b><span style="color:#050505"> </span><b><span style="color:#007C6A">|</span></b><span style="color:#050505"> Attorney</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">WALL GROUP LAW <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2A2A2A">51 W. Dayton St., Suite 305 <b>|</b> Edmonds, WA 98020</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#007C6A">Tel</span></b><span style="color:#050505"> 425.670.1560 </span><b><span style="color:#007C6A">|</span></b><span style="color:#050505"> </span><b><span style="color:#007C6A">Fax</span></b><span style="color:#050505"> 425.361.1512 </span><b><span style="color:#007C6A">|</span></b><span style="color:#050505"> </span><a href="http://www.wallgrouplaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0066CC">http://www.wallgrouplaw.com</span></a><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">THIS ACCOUNT IS FOR MAILING LIST PURPOSES ONLY.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">For faster response email chandra at
</span><a href="http://wallgrouplaw.com" target="_blank">wallgrouplaw.com</a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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