<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=utf-8"><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:"Segoe UI Emoji";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
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="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Along the same lines in similar circumstances, I’ve had PRs nominated under a Will wait 20 months from death to file for probate, (assuming solvent estate and no aggressive creditors/bond is waived under Will ) . That way they are at least in control of estate, over a potential creditor, 4 months earlier, and you don’t even publish NTC because the 4 months expires at 2 years anyways. If it’s intestate, we’ve waited 2 years from death to file which makes it easier for court to waive bond too. As a practical matter, creditors seem hesitant to petition to be PR as they don’t know what they are stepping into (e.g. missing heirs, insolvent estate, tax issues). Thanks, Cy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Cyrus W. Field, Attorney at Law (admitted in Washington and Oregon); Phone: 360-472-1223 <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Mail: POB 367, Shaw Island, WA 98286; Physical Office: 640 Mullis St #214, Friday Harbor, WA</span></i><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>****************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>The information contained in this email message, including attachments, may be privileged, confidential and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think you have received this email in error, please email the sender at <a href="mailto:cyfield@rockisland.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>cyfield@rockisland.com</span></a> and destroy or delete the original and any copies.</span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><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><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>Eric Nelsen<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 26, 2023 1:24 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Affidavit of Inheritance - Decedent Had Many Creditors<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Josh—For what it’s worth, I have had clients who waited out the 2 years and then did the affidavit of small estate. I think it’s a legitimate method, because no one ever has a legal duty to start a probate or initiate a non-probate creditor agent process. Time heals all debts. Wounds. whatever.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><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">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</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></div><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><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> Wednesday, April 26, 2023 1:02 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] Affidavit of Inheritance - Decedent Had Many Creditors<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'>I’ve never encountered this. I would not represent this person, and I would not tell them the following, but I wonder . . .</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>If the true “successor” waits two years for creditors to administer upon the estate – let’s say they do not – and the creditors’ claims become time-barred, could a person sign a small estate affidavit as lawful successor and THEN truthfully attest to the creditor element of the small estate affidavit (if there are then no <u>other</u> valid claims known to them that are not time barred by Washington law)? </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Wild. Seems kind’ve awful, but also maybe “fine” if the theory is that creditors get first dibs to administer and have LOTS of time to do so; if they do not for two years, the money sits unclaimed until it escheats; if before it escheats, a successor claims it at a time (after two years) when s/he genuinely believes there are no valid creditor claims, the successor may have the money in favor of escheat. Maybe that is exactly what public policy approves, because it gives plenty of time for each party to protect its rights if it wishes to?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>That requires research before simply “doing,” to be very clear, but I wonder if that wouldn’t be perfectly fine. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Bar exam question; not probably a real-life question. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif'>😉</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> Best, Josh </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><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><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>Eric Nelsen<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 26, 2023 12:45 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] Affidavit of Inheritance - Decedent Had Many Creditors</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have. May need to decline to represent the client. If you have actual knowledge of their intent not to pay creditors, can’t prepare the affidavit for them. RPC 4.1, RPC 1.2(d).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Eric</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Eric C. Nelsen</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Sayre Law Offices, PLLC</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>1417 31st Ave South</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Seattle WA 98144-3909</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>206-625-0092</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></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.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><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><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><a href="mailto:Jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">Jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a><br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 26, 2023 11:37 AM<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] Affidavit of Inheritance - Decedent Had Many Creditors</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LIstmates:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Decedent passed with many debts owing. Only major asset is a bank account with a balance of @ $10000. Not worth starting probate. However, I am reluctant to use my Affidavit because the person swears they have paid or provided for the creditors. I know the person will not do that, but take the money and go. Have any of you dealt with this situation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>W. Jeff Davis</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>BELL & DAVIS PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Attorneys at Law</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br>P.O. Box 510</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>720 E. Washington Street, Suite 105<br>Sequim WA 98382<br>Phone: (360) 683.1129 <br>Fax: (360) 683.1258 <br>email: </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a><span style='color:black'><br></span></span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue'>www.bellanddavispllc.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br> <br>The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please e-mail the sender at </span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue'>info@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> or call 360.683.1129.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>