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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I have run into this where no beneficiaries were named. The administrator defaulted to the Estate. They liquidated the account and wrote a check to the Estate (thank you for the income tax debt).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeff<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>W. Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>BELL & DAVIS PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>Attorneys at Law</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><br>P.O. Box 510<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>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'><a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='color:black'><br></span></span><a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>www.bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><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><a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>info@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'> or call 360.683.1129.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><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>Anna Van Pelt<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 29, 2023 1:38 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] 401K without a beneficiary<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I'm in a debate with an HR administrator and hoping someone has encountered this before. It's a first for me. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Intestate decedent failed to name any beneficiary on their 401K. They are survived by their spouse and minor child. HR administrator says the financial institution can name a beneficiary if there isn't one; I'm concerned that it needs to go through probate. FWIW there is other separately owned real estate that is also requiring probate. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Has anyone else encountered this? <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Anna<br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Van Pelt Law <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>(206) 635-7250<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.vanpeltlegal.com" target="_blank">www.vanpeltlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=200 height=80 style='width:2.0833in;height:.8333in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D9F2DC.E5F759A0" alt="Image removed by sender."></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: </span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:black'><br></span></i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>This communication (including any attachments) is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient or believe that you may have received this communication in error, please delete this communication from your computer and do not retransmit, copy, print or otherwise disseminate this communication.</span><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP:<br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>This e-mail does not in any way intend to provide legal advice to be relied upon by any recipient and does not create any duty or obligation for legal representation on behalf of the sender Van Pelt Law & Mediation PLLC on behalf of the recipient of this e-mail without a written engagement agreement.</span><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>