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</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='color:#1F497D'>If the heirs at law were not given notice, they can reopen the estate regardless of the passage of time. I had a case a few years back where some relatives had a falling out and petitioned to reopen an estate that was closed about 15 years, due to lack of notice of opening and closing (not due to lack of knowledge of the probate). The challengers ultimately lost and nothing changed, but it cost everyone a lot of money.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Lenard L Wittlake, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Attorney & Counselor at Law<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>22 East Poplar Street, Suite 202<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>P.O. Box 1233<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Walla Walla, WA 99362<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>(509) 529-1529 voice<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>(509) 850-3515 fax<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:Lenard@wittlakelaw.com"><span style='color:blue'>Lenard@wittlakelaw.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-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D'>The information contained in this email may be privileged, confidential or<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D'>otherwise protected from disclosure. If you received this email in error,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D'>please reply to the sender that you have received this information in error<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#1F497D'>and delete this email.</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto: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<br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Who is Entitled to Notice of Appointment<o:p></o:p></span></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";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>