<html 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;}
/* 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.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brent –
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> In our experience, the short answer is no – the executor does not have the option to convey under alternative means. However (and there is often a however)
there is always the possibility of getting the beneficiary to agree to have their distribution put into trust. We have had happen on occasion simply by agreement when the beneficiary has some clarity of insight into their own situation. If the beneficiary
is not agreeable, then a little more effort is involved as you are going to have to engage the conservator statutes to get there. Under the former guardianship statutes, addiction was a basis for a finding of incapacity. It is not expressly stated in the
UGA, but the substantial risk of harm because of addiction is still the route one goes to get there.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> What your client is going to need is clear and convincing evidence of substantial risk or harm due to addiction. This is important both because it is the required
burden of proof and one does not want to risk a finding that the petition was filed in bad faith. So, solid investigation is essential, and one needs to have clear and convincing evidence to support a substantial risk of harm. Under this plan, you may not
end up with a conservatorship as a trust is a perfectly suitable less restrictive alternative provided the beneficiary can execute one and agrees to a trust as an alternative to a conservatorship. Under that scenario the court would dismiss the conservatorship
petition for the less restrictive alternative. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Hope that helps. Always curious to know what others think of this dilemma.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Mark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Mark C. Vohr, J.D. CPGC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ohana Fiduciary Corporation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A Washington Trust Company<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">155 NE 100<sup>th</sup> St., Suite 209<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Seattle, WA 98125<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Telephone: (206) 782-1189<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></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>Brent Williams-Ruth<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 11, 2023 10:23 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Power of Executor - beneficiary dealing with addiction<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Greetings List Member - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
I was looking through 11.48 et seq and not finding what I was hoping for......hoping someone may be able to assist with some directional guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Have a simple estate, everything is going great, except one of the beneficiaries is in the midst of a substance abuse battle and they are not winning (currently). The Executor is concerned about
giving this person approximately $300k in the form of a cashier's check. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The Will was one created by a low-cost provider and gives no express powers or authorization to make any adjustments to how an inheritance should be conveyed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Short of going to court and establishing a conservatorship-style situation. Is there statutory authority for an Executor to convey through alternate means?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Appreciate any guidance!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Brent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brent Williams-Ruth</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> (pronouns: he/him)<br>
<i>Attorney-At-Law</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal Way, WA 98003</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">**EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY**</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> All mail sent through the USPS should be sent to the following address: PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA
98063 </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><span style="color:red">(253) 285-7751</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Direct:<span style="color:red"> (253) 285-7453</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">e-mail</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.williams-2Druthlaw.com_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=D9tEoysSE2LeouMC9Y8WQQ&m=64P1UnPPPEDc-xC83lN0399RCxCIyKwMBZkfuMVbyKq-7W1rz-78uKSnIlYWjOzZ&s=jEoMWhvsM27cSvs352Kvr8b2BNM-ONwiidQo_D5lDVA&e=" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">website</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> /</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.facebook.com_bwrlaw&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=D9tEoysSE2LeouMC9Y8WQQ&m=64P1UnPPPEDc-xC83lN0399RCxCIyKwMBZkfuMVbyKq-7W1rz-78uKSnIlYWjOzZ&s=OEXbNTg_4RxGumX4-QGUb3SDLzQfodM3hwyodizRYlc&e=" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">facebook</span></a><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>