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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div class="WordSection1"><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">My only advice is don’t give up, this stuff happens over the course of a practice. Dig in and file a response arguing good cause against change of venue and fight it. If you lose then file a motion for revision. As Winston Churchill said, Never ever give up. So some research around good cause for a PR to stay in the county of choice and a declaration from PR. Doesn’t have to be long, just compelling.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">RCW 11.96A.050</p><p class="MsoNormal">Venue in proceedings involving probate or trust matters.</p><p class="MsoNormal">(4) Venue for proceedings pertaining to the probate of wills, the administration and disposition of a decedent's property, including nonprobate assets, and any other matter not identified in subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section, <span style="background:yellow">must be in any county in the state of Washington that the petitioner selects.</span> A party to a proceeding may request that venue be changed if the request is made within four months of the mailing of the notice of appointment and pendency of probate required by RCW 11.28.237, <span style="background:yellow">and except for good cause shown</span>, venue must be moved as follows:</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Good luck, Tom</p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Sincerely,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Tom</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thomas J. Westbrook</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Attorney at Law</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><img width="152" height="62" style="width:1.5833in;height:.6416in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DAD6C1.21EBBAA0"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1f497d">324 West Bay Drive NW, Suite 201</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1f497d">Olympia, WA 98502</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1f497d">(360) 866-4000 phone</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1f497d">(360) 866--3832 fax</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif"><a href="http://www.buddbaylaw.com/">www.buddbaylaw.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:red">COVID POLICY:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Our firm continues to follow guidance from the CDC and Governor Inslee’s office regarding social distancing and the wearing of face coverings, and we encourage the public and our clients to do the same. Our staff is still working remotely much of the time so electronic communication by phone and email continues to be encouraged. We appreciate your patience and understanding.</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature"><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><p class="MsoNormal">Get <a href="https://aka.ms/o0ukef">Outlook for iOS</a></p></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="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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 Amy Goertz <<a href="mailto:amyjgoertz@icloud.com">amyjgoertz@icloud.com</a>><br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 15, 2024 11:16:31 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] Venue Issue</span> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Good Morning,</span> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">I filed a TEDRA Petition, set a hearing on it. The opposing counsel responded with an untimely Motion to Change Venue and asked the court to hear his Motion first. The attorney then failed to confirm his motion. At the hearing, the court took my original matter “under advisement” and is now considering his stricken motion to change venue. </span><span style="font-size:18.0pt">I think the judge just wants to get this case off the docket. I have until Friday to respond.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">For the record, I don’t believe opposing counsel is on this list serve as this is not his primary area of practice. </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">The parties and the real property at issue are in the outlying county where they want to move this matter, but we do not believe my client will be treated fairly there as the other attorney and clients are entrenched in the local legal community and know everyone there.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Does anyone have any suggestions or any briefing or is this just a lost cause?</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Thanks in advance. This case and this attorney are seriously making me contemplate giving up my practice.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Amy</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:black">Amy J. Goertz, J.D.</span></i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:black">Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC</span></i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"></span></p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:amyjgoertz@icloud.com">amyjgoertz@icloud.com</a> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">1.888.926.2607 phone<br>1.877.684.1627 fax</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Address for correspondence:</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">2829 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 303<br>Spokane, WA 99203 </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Additional office locations:</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">510 Bell Street<br>Edmonds, WA 98020</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="http://www.goertzlambrecht.com/">www.goertzlambrecht.com</a></span></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><br style="font-variant-caps:normal;text-align:start;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;word-spacing:0px"><br></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div></body></html>