<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)">
<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:"Open Sans";}
/* 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-size:10.0pt;}
@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">I think the purpose of the ‘notice’ statute is to alert those who presumably would be in a position to know if there was some other intention of the decedent, other than the purported will language, if that is true then all persons close
enough to the decedent such that they might have knowledge of his or her intent should be given notice. I think that means all first order relatives: parents, siblings, children.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<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>Lovie Bernardi<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 11, 2022 2:04 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Who is Entitled to Notice of Appointment<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear listserv members,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It has always been my practice to send notice to the children of a decedent when opening a probate, even when it appears all decedent’s property is community property and goes to the surviving spouse. I have been contacted by the child
of a decedent who did not receive a notice of appointment when her father’s probate was filed. The probate has been closed for three years and she and the other children just found out about the probate. I viewed the petition (filed by step mother) online
and the children were not listed as heirs and the petition states all property was community property. Setting aside the issue that there is nothing for the heirs to claim if all property was community, were the heirs entitled to notice? I’ve looked at the
statute and the definition of heirs is as follows :<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">"Heirs" denotes those persons, including the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner, who are entitled under the statutes of intestate succession
to the real and personal property of a decedent on the decedent's death intestate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">I suppose it could be argued that if there is no separate property, the heirs other than the surviving spouse aren’t entitled to any property and therefore aren’t entitled to notice.
But I would argue that they should be given notice so they can demand an inventory of the assets so they can dispute the characterization of the assets as community property, if appropriate.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">I would like to know how others view this issue. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">Lovie</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Lovie L. Bernardi</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Flaherty & Bernardi, PLLC</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">3600 15<sup>th</sup> Avenue West #205</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Seattle, WA 98119</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(206) 682-2616</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:joni@sbfirm.com">lovie@fb-lawfirm.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://sbfirm.com/">http://fb-lawfirm.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">**********</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient or otherwise have received
this message in error, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message or any part of it. If you are not the intended recipient or otherwise have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, discard
any paper copies and delete all electronic files of the message. <i>Circular 230 Notice: This communication may not be used by you or any other person or entity for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties.</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>