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<p class="MsoNormal">I try to evaluate these situations carefully each time, but in general I have concluded that (1) the PR has no duty to provide information to a creditor beyond the statutory notice requirements, and (2) because of that, it’s not clear to
me that disclosure is impliedly authorized against the confidentiality presumption in RPC 1.6, so I’d need client authorization before providing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And of course the PR asks me what to do, and I advise that there’s no duty to provide further information. Sometimes the PR says go ahead, sometimes they say ignore the request.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That said—on occasion if I’m concerned that I’m going to get saddled with a creditor claim on the wrong case and it will create an expensive mess to fix, or there are other factors involved, I advise the PR that it’s better to cooperate.
As Inge points out, sometimes there is a reason the Estate wants cooperation from the creditor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua;mso-ligatures:none">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled
on a case-by-case basis. Please direct mail and deliveries to the Seattle office.<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"><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>Inge Fordham<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 25, 2023 10:25 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Request from Creditor for DC & Letters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Decedent had a credit card with BECU. (He also had a checking account but the balance was nominal – and may now be overdrawn due to auto-scheduled payments). I sent BECU a Notice to Creditors. In response, BECU is requesting the certified
death certificate (which is on file with the court) and the letters testamentary (also on file with the court, obviously). I don’t believe I have any obligation to send BECU either document. I could see reason to be more cooperative if the decedent had multiple
accounts, PR needed access to a checking or savings account, etc. but that’s not the case. What do you do in these situations? I’m inclined to ignore the request (after notifying the client, of course).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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;mso-ligatures:none">Inge A. Fordham | Attorney</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><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;mso-ligatures:none">Fordham Law, PLLC</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><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;mso-ligatures:none">3218 Sixth Avenue | Tacoma, WA 98406</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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