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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks, Josh. After hitting “send,” I realized my word choice was not the best. We obviously can’t reject a claim that was not asserted. In these instances, I typically send a letter to the creditor outlining why they can no longer assert
a claim against the estate (typically because a creditor claim was not brought within 30 days of actual notice). I wonder whether anyone has specifically dealt with a subrogation claim. My sense, based on initial research, is that this is a standard creditor
claim like any other unsecured debt. The decedent entered into a payment plan to avoid a subrogation claim. The insurance company must bring a claim pursuant to RCW 11.40.070. We provided actual notice and the insurance company failed to file a claim within
30 days. I think I’ll just send my standard letter and see what kind of push back, if any, I get. Appreciate the responses!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#203864">Inge A. Fordham | Attorney</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:black">Fordham Law, PLLC</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">From: </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> on behalf of Joshua McKarcher <josh@mckarcherlaw.com><br>
<b>Reply-To: </b>WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Date: </b>Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 3:05 PM<br>
<b>To: </b>WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject: </b>Re: [WSBAPT] Statement of Balance Owed w/o Creditor Claim<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hi Inge,
<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">Don’t worry – this email will not tell you to pay both claims!
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Apple Color Emoji"">😉</span><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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Given your premises -- and unless subrogation claims are somehow “special” or it is somehow a secured debt (which I doubt) – I just wanted to relieve you of one concern:
there is nothing in my mind to “reject”; indeed, nothing further to do at all . . . so far.
<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">If neither creditor has done more than what you say after receiving your notice to creditors at their usual address, then neither has
<u>filed</u> anything, and your client has nothing to <u>reject</u>. No further communication is necessary, it seems to me, unless they continue attempts to collect
<u>past</u> the later of the “publication notice” deadline and the “actual notice” 30-day deadline.<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">Mind you, I cannot help but clarify that as a legal reality, a letter saying you cannot collect, or the deadline is past, or I hereby reject your claim, or any of it has
only the finality accorded it <u>by a court</u> one day (or, admittedly, by an impressionable creditor-recipient who accepts it as gospel and does nothing to fight 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">So I would be careful to research the law regarding subrogation claims if I were going to try to avoid the claim, so that I didn’t risk surprising my client’s beneficiaries
with a lawsuit in the future asserting they’re each equally liable as takers of the estate, etc. etc. etc. I always think in these situations, “It would beyond unpleasant to find out there was a special rule of law hidden somewhere I didn’t know about regarding
subrogation claims.” (And, let’s be honest, if it’s an INSURER’s claim, does anyone still reading this missive really think insurers could not
<u>possibly</u> have some little known protection under state or federal law protecting their subrogation claims?)
<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">So that would be my only additional “analysis point” before giving anyone comfort that “Yay, the deadline is past! They’re owed NOTHING!” But I’m learning how significantly
more risk-averse I am than a whole lot of PRs out there! </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Apple Color Emoji"">😉</span><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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">All the 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"><span style="color:blue">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</span></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"><span style="color:blue">www.mckarcherlaw.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></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>Inge Fordham<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 22, 2022 1:53 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Statement of Balance Owed w/o Creditor Claim<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have a probate where I sent notice to a handful of reasonably ascertainable creditors per RCW 11.40.020(1)(c). Two of the creditors responded by sending: (1) an invoice requesting payment of the balance owed on a credit card; and (2)
a statement of account on a subrogation claim (it appears the decedent was making monthly payments to satisfy the claim). Neither creditor has presented a claim in accordance with RCW 11.40.070. Nothing has been filed with the court. Curious as to how my
colleagues handle these situations. I’m not as concerned about the credit card – the creditor is Capitol One and they should know well enough to present and file a Creditor Claim. I’m more concerned about the subrogation claim and whether the PR could safely
reject that claim for failure to comply with RCW 11.40.070 once 30 days has expired. (I realize that the PR can waive the defect. The PR in this case does not want to waive the defect if she can safely reject the claim).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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