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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hello Probate Listserv Braintrust:<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'>I have a situation and could use your input and feedback.<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'>Circumstances:<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'>Decedent co-habituated with another person (“Roommate”) and together they leased an apartment together. Parent of decedent has been appointed as Estate Administrator with nonintervention powers.<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'>Parent and I have communicated with the Roommate and attempted to retrieve the decedent’s personal belongings which are now estate assets, but Roommate has delayed and has refused to allow retrieval of assets. Family members of decedent have also previously communicated with Roommate requesting estate assets/ decedent’s belongings in the apartment and was similarly refused. <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'> Roommate claims that decedent and therefore the estate owes Roommate for unpaid rent on the apartment since decedent’s death, however, decedent has been removed from the lease with landlord and property managers soon after death. Roommate claims to have a lien against the assets of the estate for the unpaid rent. Roommate filed a lien in county recorder’s office, but used improper basis claiming an estate recovery lien for Medicaid payments under WAC . Roommate sent a creditor claim/ claim of lien via mail to the administrator’s attorney’s office, but did not file a creditor claim timely. Roommate was served actual notice of creditor claims by mail and an affidavit of mailing said notice was filed with the court. <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'>Roommate later filed a creditor claim well after the 4 month and 30 days deadlines had already passed. Roommate received a Notice of Rejection of Creditor Claims and has not filed suit against the estate administrator to contest the Rejection of Creditor Claims.<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'>Roommate was presented an itemized list of the estate assets that remain in the apartment and was previously provided with a copy of the letters of administration with a demand to release the items to estate administrator and /or administrator’s agents including myself as the administrator’s attorney and resident agent. Roommate responds that Roommate will only allow the retrieval of the estate assets from the apartment if estate representative presents i) a court order authorizing the release of the estate’s assets and ii) an inventory of estate’s assets and iii) copy of letters of administration. Roommate has stated the above demands in writing. <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'>Questions for esteemed listservers:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Can a motion for such an order be submitted exparte or is a formal hearing with advanced notice of said hearing required?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Can the costs for reasonable attorney fees and court costs for the order to release estate assets against Roommate for refusing to allow the estate’s authorized representative retrieve the estate assets given that the Roommate does not contest the ownership of the items on the provided list of estate assets, Roommate has already been presented with letters of administration, and administrator and other representatives of administrator have made numerous attempts to contact Roommate and coordinate retrieval of estate assets from apartment. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=3 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I know that RCW 11.96A.150 gives the court broad discretion in estate or trust proceedings to award costs, including reasonable attorney fees, to any party. The court can order these fees paid by:<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Any party to the proceedings. Is there another statutory basis for awarding the attorney fees against the Roommate for demanding a court order to retrieve the estate’s assets when Roommate does not contest that the estate’s assets are in the apartment or that the estate has the authority to claim such assets? Essentially, if Roommate is going to force the estate to obtain a court order, is there a statutory basis for getting a judgment against Roommate for such costs (other than RCW 11.96A.150)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=4 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Does a motion for an order to release the estate’s assets to the estate need to filed as a separate TEDRA action or can it be filed in the same case and case number as the probate? <o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=5 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Is the estate obligated to provide an inventory of estate assets? RCW 11.44.015 limits the authority of persons able to request an inventory to “any heir, legatee, devisee, unpaid creditor who has filed a claim, or beneficiary of a nonprobate asset from whom contribution is sought under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.18.200"><b>11.18.200</b></a>, or from the department of revenue…” <o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>It is debatable whether Roommate is an “unpaid creditor who has filed a claim” since the claim was filed after the allowable timeframe and was rejected by the administrator. Further, Roommate has not contested the Rejection of Creditor claim. As such, it is unclear if Roommate meets the definition of “unpaid creditor who has filed a claim” under RCW 11.44.015(2) . Any input is welcome and appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=6 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Any feedback or insights from anyone who had delt with a similar situation or intractable person or entity who is holding estate assets but will not release them would be greatly appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thank you all in advance for you input feedback and thoughts. <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'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kind regards, <span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='color:purple'>Michael S. Safren, Esq.</span></b> <b><br></b><i>Attorney at Law</i> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><img border=0 width=800 height=400 style='width:8.3333in;height:4.1666in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DBF01A.CCE04F70"><br><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/14900+Interurban+Ave.+S.,+Ste.+280+%7C+Seattle,+WA+98168?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>14900 Interurban Ave. S., Ste. 280 | Seattle, WA 98168</span></a> <br><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/11900+NE+1st+St.,+Bldg.+G+-+Ste.+300?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>11900 NE 1st St., Bldg. 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It constitutes non-public information intended to be conveyed only to the designated recipient(s). If the reader or recipient of this communication is not the intended recipient, an employee or agent of the intended recipient who is responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, or you believe that you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and promptly delete this e-mail, including attachments without reading or saving them in any manner. The unauthorized use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this e-mail, including attachments, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Receipt by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is not a waiver of any attorney/client or other privilege.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>