<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=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><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:"Source Sans Pro";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@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="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Geneesa: sage advice from most long time lawyers is: if you must ask the question, then don’t do it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am old enough to be sage, but also a risk taker by nature. So the answer depends on your personality methinks; in either case document how careful you are to not give advice to non clients.<o:p></o:p></p>
<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>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Joshua McKarcher<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 13, 2023 6:46 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Conflict of interest question<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Based on your facts, I do not think you are formally disallowed to proceed. All of these situations are intensely fact specific and depend a lot on personality and communication.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">And as a practical matter, it seems you’re safe if it is correct that <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">(1) nephew was the only beneficiary of aunt’s estate (or at least all beneficiaries are on board), and <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">(2) the heirs at law in intestacy of nephew’s estate are unbothered by your client very kindly managing all of this with you as her lawyer. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you communicate in writing with the affected parties and make clear you are not their lawyer and each is welcome to consult his or her own lawyer — perhaps by email with a friendly “please reply to confirm you received this” if everyone
is getting along as it seems — then you have a nice little “get out of jail free [or at least less painfully]” card if someone decides to get angry later on.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then you act largely like a robot, do a lot of paperwork and procedural stuff to make the pieces land where they should on the board, and do not suddenly improperly disfavor beneficiaries of either estate if your client surprises you and
suddenly wants to (“No. Your role as creditor gives you the right to petition for Letters of Administration. But it does not give you the right to just do whatever you want. If you do so, I’m withdrawing, maybe noisily.”). . . and soon it should all be wrapped
up nicely.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good work, counselor! ;) Best, Josh <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joshua D. McKarcher<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">McKarcher Law PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">537 6th Street<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clarkston, WA 99403<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">(509) 758-3345<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">(509) 758-3314 (fax)<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.mckarcherlaw.com">www.mckarcherlaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<hr size="2" width="98%" align="center">
</div>
<div id="divRplyFwdMsg">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">From:</span></b><span style="color:black">
<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>> on behalf of Genissa Richardson <<a href="mailto:genissa@truenorthlegalservices.com">genissa@truenorthlegalservices.com</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 12, 2023 3:24:44 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] Conflict of interest question</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates, <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Conflicts question:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aunt passed away and left real property to Nephew. Nephew began probating Aunt's estate, but did not transfer the title of RP to himself yet. Then Nephew passed away (intestate). <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">PNC is a friend of Nephew, who paid off the mortgage on the property to the tune of over 100k. Has bank records to prove it - transferred money directly to the bank. Plan was for Nephew and Friend to take title to the property together.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friend seeks representation in her capacity as a creditor of Nephew's estate. She is talking to friends and family to try to determine who will be the new PR of Aunt's estate and who will be PR of Nephew's estate. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">My thoughts are that a) it would be a lot more concise and easier to have one attorney handle both probates and represent her as creditor,
<b>but</b> b) best practices and ethics rules dictate that I not do that.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can I represent Friend in her capacity as a creditor and represent the PR of either of the estates? I'm thinking instead that two additional attorneys are necessary - one for each PR/estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can Friend take over as PR of one or both estates? Again, it would be the easiest route, but I'm not sure it's a good idea, due to size of creditor claim.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We do not anticipate any conflicts or litigation, etc., but obviously I can't know for certain at this juncture and it sounds like a bad idea for me to represent everyone here.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thoughts?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black">Genissa Richardson</span></b><b><i><span style="color:black">,</span></i></b><b><span style="color:black"> Attorney at Law</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">True North Legal Services, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">301 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">PO Box 934, Bellingham, WA 98227 (mailing address)</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Phone (360) 639-3393</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#222222">U.S. Coast Guard Veteran</span></b><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#222222">NOTICE OF UNAVAILABILITY:</span></b><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222222">I am out of the office and unavailable the following dates:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222222">December 22nd, 2023 - January 1st, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222222">January 17th - 31st, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans Pro",sans-serif;color:black">The information transmitted by this email is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed. This email may contain proprietary, business-confidential
and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, be aware that any use, review, retransmission, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this in error,
please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.</span></b><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>