<div dir="ltr">Hi Jon,<div><br></div><div>I have had many banks and credit unions allow use of a Small Estate Affidavit in this instance. Bank usually allows the claimant/heir to deposit the check into their own account (not an estate account). I do not think an estate account can be established without a court probate order, and do not think an EIN is needed since there is no formal estate. </div><div><br></div><div>I had almost this exact situation about a month ago (insurance check from claim right before wife died. Insurance company issued check in name of wife/husband). </div><div><br></div><div>We were able to get the insurance to issue the check in the name of the "Estate of Wife". Then the client took the check to the credit union with the Small Estate Affidavit. The bank allowed him to deposit the check into his own account. My client was at Sound Credit Union. But I have had other clients use the small estate affidavit at many different banks.</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Jul 13, 2023 at 5:11 PM Jon Fritzler <<a href="mailto:FritzlerLaw@outlook.com">FritzlerLaw@outlook.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg4339288145075703555">
<div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="m_4339288145075703555WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Client received 15k check payable to the Estate of her deceased spouse as the result of a “critical illness” insurance policy that decedent had through his employer. Apparently,
there was no beneficiary designation on file. No probate is otherwise needed because all other assets were owned jointly with client or she was named as beneficiary.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">On her own, client filed a small estate affidavit and got an EIN and tried to open an estate account at her bank so she could cash the check. Her bank refused to open an estate
account without Letters Testamentary. Bank suggested she ask the insurance co. to reissue the check in the name of her deceased spouse so she could deposit to a joint account that is still open! Not surprisingly, insurance company refused to do so.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Has anyone had any luck (1) getting a bank or credit union to open an estate account based on a small estate affidavit (if so, at which financial institution), or (2) getting
an insurance company to reissue a check to the beneficiary of an estate based on a small estate affidavit. Any other ideas, or is a probate necessary?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Sincerely,<br>
Jon M. Fritzler<br>
Attorney at Law<br>
717 E. 22<sup>nd</sup> St.<br>
Vancouver, WA 98663<br>
Tel. 360.818.4431<br>
Eml <a href="mailto:fritzlerlaw@outlook.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">fritzlerlaw@outlook.com</span></a><br>
<br>
CONFIDENTIALITY<br>
The information contained in this email is intended only for the use of the person or entity to whom it is addressed. This email may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the person whose name appears above, or the person responsible
for delivering the email to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading, using, copying, distributing or disseminating this communication is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this email message in error, please email the sender
at <a href="mailto:fritzlerlaw@outlook.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">fritzlerlaw@outlook.com</span></a>. Thank you.<br>
<br>
ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE<br>
The security of communications via the Internet cannot be guaranteed, especially without the use of encryption. In order to protect the attorney-client privilege, please do not use email to transmit confidential or sensitive information, or ask our office to
email confidential or sensitive information to you.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
WSBAPT mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a></div></blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font><div style="font-size:13px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:rgb(68,84,106);font-family:Garamond,serif;font-size:12pt">Respectfully,</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)">Julie Martiniello, Partner</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)">Dimension Law Group, PLLC</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)">Office:</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)"> 206-973-3500│<b>Fax:</b> 206-577-5090</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)">Email: </span></b><u><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)"><a href="mailto:synthia@dimensionlaw.com" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(68,84,106)">julie@dimensionlaw.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)"><a href="http://www.dimensionlaw.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.dimensionlaw.com</span></a></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Garamond,serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:700"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(68,84,106)">631 Strander Blvd, Bldg A, Suite G, Tukwila, WA 98188</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="garamond, times new roman, serif" size="4" style="color:rgb(0,0,255)"><u><b><br></b></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);margin-bottom:0in;font-size:small;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"></p><span style="color:rgb(68,84,106);font-size:10pt;font-family:Garamond,serif">PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: </span><span style="color:rgb(68,84,106);font-size:10pt;font-family:Garamond,serif">This email (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify us by email, facsimile, or telephone; return the email to us at the email address below; and destroy all paper and electronic copies. </span><br></div></div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br>
<span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(61,133,198)">PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL:</span><span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"> </span><span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:gray">This e-mail (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. Attempts to intercept this message are in violation of 18 USC 2511(1) of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which subjects the interceptor to fines, imprisonment and/or civil damages. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify us by e-mail, facsimile, or telephone; return the e-mail to us at the e-mail address below; and destroy all paper and electronic copies. Any settlement offer contained herein is made pursuant to Washington ER 408, and without admitting fault or liability on the part of this firm’s client(s) or its agents.</span><font style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.8px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)" face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"> </span></font><span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(79,129,189)">IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLAIMER:</span><span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:blue"> </span><span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:navy"> </span><span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:gray">To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, I inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or tax-related matter addressed herein. <br></span>