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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I agree this feels very unfair if the mother took no part in the minor’s life. But I don’t think statutory intestacy can be avoided; there is no equitable exception to it. The only way to avoid it that I know
of is to execute a valid will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">However, it might not be as much of a problem as it might seem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Minor is unlikely to actually own much of anything passing by intestacy. What does the minor actually own? Some clothing and personal effects of nominal
value? A bank account maybe? Those are the only assets that would be inherited by the parents.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Wrongful death proceeds are not estate assets and do not pass by intestacy or under a will. The measure of damages in wrongful death is the beneficiary’s
loss of love, care, affection, and society with the decedent. A custodial parent and an estranged parent have very different damages because it’s measured by the strength of their specific relationship with the child. So if mom has been out of the picture
for years, she’s going to have an uphill battle to claim more than a nominal part of wrongful death proceeds.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Look also at RCW 4.24.010, which is a cause of action by a parent for death of a child. It overlaps heavily with wrongful death but it is not the same
claim; the plaintiff for that is the parent and there are notice requirements to the other parent in order to pursue it. Here, standing to bring the claim is based on the strength of the relationship between the parent and child, so estranged mom may not have
standing to bring such a claim and even if she does, she is not likely to be awarded much if anything. Note that this action also is not an estate asset; it’s something the parent pursues directly, outside the estate.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">For what it’s worth, attached is a PDF of PowerPoint slides for a CLE that I gave a few years ago, about a PR’s duties in relation to wrongful death actions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Candace Wilkerson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, November 18, 2024 9:39 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Probate for Minor Decedent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Wow; I don’t have any experience with this, but would be interested in everyone’s thoughts. With the disclaimer that I haven’t reviewed the caselaw; but seems it couldn’t hurt to make the argument that the
minor wouldn’t want his mother to inherit from him – especially <u>if</u> she deserted him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Candace M. Wilkerson<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Of Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Seattle Litigation Group, PLLC</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">1215 4th Ave., Suite 1100<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Seattle, WA 98161
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">(206) 407-3300 (Office)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">(206) 407-3097 (Fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">*Candace is available to respond to emails and phone calls between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you have an urgent matter outside that time period, please call our office
at the number below.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">We have moved! As of July 1, 2024 our new address will be The Financial Center, 1215 4th Ave., Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 98161. Everything else remains the
same.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Berylium;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Notice: Unless you have previously signed an engagement agreement with this firm, and the firm has accepted you as a client, then NO exchange
of information by virtue of e-mails or other communications will create an attorney-client relationship, including a duty of confidentiality, between sender and/or recipient.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
<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>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Kendel Froese<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, November 18, 2024 11:00 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] Probate for Minor Decedent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<a href="mailto:kendel@thrivelawpllc.com">kendel@thrivelawpllc.com</a>. <a href="https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification">
Learn why this is important</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Good morning:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I have a client who has been appointed as the administrator of her brother's estate. He was 16 years old when he died. A big part of why we needed to open probate and appoint an administrator
was because a wrongful death action was being pursued and someone needed to be appointed to act on behalf of the estate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Clearly, the decedent died without a Will - in large part of course because he couldn't legally execute a Will as a minor. My assumption has been that his assets are to be distributed under the
laws of intestacy.... but this is just weird enough with him being a minor that I wanted to reach out and see if anyone has dealt with similar circumstances and would be willing to brainstorm with me. He wasn't married and didn't have kids, so his estate is
set to go to his parents - and the decedent's mother was completely out of the picture while he was alive (they didn't even know where mom was living). I'm wondering if there is a case to be made that if he had been old enough to execute a Will, he would not
have left anything to his estranged mother? Any case law anyone is aware of? Or are we just stuck with the laws of intestacy? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thank you in advance for sharing your wisdom!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Warmly,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Kendel</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">--</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Kendel Froese </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Attorney,
<a href="https://www.froeselawpllc.com" target="_blank">Froese Law PLLC</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">203 N. Washington | Suite 200 | Spokane, WA | 99201 </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">509.514.5317 (Call & Text)
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Instantly schedule an appointment with me
</span></i><a href="https://calendly.com/froeselawpllc" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC">here</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">!</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Please Note!</span></b><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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