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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I actually used to be able to have clients endorse checks to my IOLTA account, and more than once used this for small dollar checks payable to an estate long closed, or with a client we may have already assisted
with a SEA. Recently, my bank has refused to deposit any checks payable to clients, even if endorsed by that client. They are categorizing them as 3<sup>rd</sup> party checks. Efforts to explain that all funds in our IOLTA are 3<sup>rd</sup> party funds have
been unsuccessful in changing their minds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Vladimir Script";color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><img width="189" height="105" style="width:1.9666in;height:1.0916in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D971D2.7C2A5440"></span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;mso-ligatures:none">3909 California Avenue SW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;mso-ligatures:none">Seattle, WA 98116-3705
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;mso-ligatures:none">(206)938-5500
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:heatherd@westseattlelaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">heatherd@westseattlelaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;mso-ligatures:none">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.westseattlelaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">www.westseattlelaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;mso-ligatures:none">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002E8A;mso-ligatures:none">Click here to connect with de Vrieze | Carney on Facebook:
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Nyala;color:red;mso-ligatures:none">For your advance planning - I will be away from the office April 26-28.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#A6A6A6;mso-ligatures:none">CONFIDENTIAL & PRIVILEGED. This e-mail message may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the
sender immediately and delete all copies of this e-mail message and any attachment.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Joshua McKarcher<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 17, 2023 9:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Living Trust issue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Thanks so much, Bruce. I am going to investigate this more closely and will report back. I connected these dots years ago, but I cannot put it all together right now. I
know for sure that I would be liable for any deposit that went wrong in my IOLTA account, and my banker knows that as well as I do. As I should be.<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">What matters in the moment is that my approach is that the lawyer and client are taking responsibility for the proper
<u>receipt</u> and <u>application</u> of every penny of such a deposit; that it’s in “simple, clear, black and white” cases (such as this only child without disinherited heirs who have never received notice of the will’s existence, say, and could challenge
application of the funds, say); where I have confidence the money does properly belong to my client (or, I suppose one might say, is, at worst, third-party property subject to no dispute and subject to straightforward delivery to my client in some capacity,
including for distribution to beneficiaries to whom s/he owes a fiduciary duty); and where dollar amounts simply do not justify spending legal fees to wrangle a replacement check from some of the most difficult payors on the planet.<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">Anyhow, I love it – thanks for engaging the discussion. I’ll report back, and am always happy to be wrong, because then I can fix it and help others to avoid the same “wrong.”
<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">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;mso-ligatures:none">Joshua D. McKarcher<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">McKarcher Law PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">537 6th Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Clarkston, WA 99403<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">(509) 758-3345<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">(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;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com"><span style="color:#0086F0">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;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.mckarcherlaw.com/"><span style="color:#0086F0">www.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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<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>Bruce Moen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 17, 2023 7:21 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Living Trust issue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Josh,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And I don’t really know the answer to all of this or what the Bar may think.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To my mind, an estate or a trust is not an entity like an LLC or a corporation. An estate or a trust, to my mind, is a relationship and a representative capacity. To me, the estate exists only via the appointment of a PR or a legislative
work around like a Small Estate Affidavit. Maybe I’m overly cautious, but I declined to use my IOLTA account thusly. I succeeded in getting the check reissued.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Bruce<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<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>Joshua McKarcher<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 17, 2023 6:47 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Living Trust issue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Well, this is interesting. I don’t think an estate does not exist. I think it is created immediately upon the death of a person and consists of all their property not held
(in this example) in trust. Reimbursements owed to the individual decedent are property of the decedent’s estate. Whether that estate is administered or resolved by a small estate affidavit (note word “estate”), or by a court process, there is an estate. The
check is made payable to the estate, and I would defend this approach to the Bar without hesitation – UNLESS there is a missing fact, such as this child is NOT the only heir and there are disinherited heirs at law, say. But in absence of that – on these easy
ones – if I’m representing the one person responsible for resolving the decedent’s estate, then I just cannot imagine why the Bar would object to resolving so easily the joint interests of all parties involved, including the payor. 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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<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>Bruce Moen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 17, 2023 6:22 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Living Trust issue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not sure about the IOLTA deposit. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The bank may accept the deposit, but would the Bar Association approve if audited.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Basically, you are negotiating a check to a non-existent payee.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve had this issue and declined the IOLTA option for a payee that I know does not exist.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No harm, no foul? Or a violation?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does anyone know whether the Bar would approve?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Bruce Moen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<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>Joshua McKarcher<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 17, 2023 5:58 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Living Trust issue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If you represent the estate – which exists whether it is being administered in court or not – by representing its PR, as I suspect you do, then you can deposit the check
to your IOLTA account, let it go collected, and credit it to her next bill or write her a check. Voila!<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">Alternatively, she can persuade her own bank that she is the only beneficiary of the estate via the trust, and maybe they will negotiate it for her if they know her well.<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">Or if there is a trust account, she can try to persuade the bank holding the trust account that the trust is entitled to all property of the estate by virtue of the will.<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 solve these problems with bank relationships, in the end. It’s the easiest and sometimes only option available.<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">Good luck! 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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<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>Jenna Brozik<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 17, 2023 5:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Living Trust issue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello list mates, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Client’s mother passed away and the mother had a living trust. Client is the Trustee of the Living Trust and only beneficiary. All assets were titled in the Living Trust. However, client received a check in the mail after mother passed
away. Apparently the mother overpaid her healthcare premium and the company issued her a check for the overpayment. The check is made out to the Estate. Client called to ask company to make it out to Living Trust. Company has refused. Company has refused
to reissue the check under any name. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Should client just open up a bank account under the Estate to get this check deposited? No probate is necessary in this case. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";mso-ligatures:none">Jenna Brozik<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Managing Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222222;mso-ligatures:none">PRINZ & BROZIK PLLC</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222222;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
445 S. Grand Avenue<br>
Pullman, WA 99163<br>
509-338-0908 Telephone<br>
509-338-3527 Facsimile</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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