<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" 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=us-ascii">
<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:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am only now encountering something I’ve never had to analyze previously: is there (really?) no way in Washington to get a final order validating a (handwritten and properly witnessed but not self-proved) will without a 4-month waiting
period, such as by placing the relevant parties on notice and setting the petition for hearing instead of doing it
<i>ex parte</i>?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is it really the law in Washington that if one receives notice and opportunity to be heard they STILL get 4 months to challenge an order of probate? Are my colleague and I just missing something somewhere in our majestically disorganized
statutes? (Yes, I threw that out there. If anyone wants to nominate me one day to reorganize them, I’m happy to take a shot. One should not have to refer to 3 different sections entirely to figure out what on earth “nonintervention powers” are or how to get
them.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Anyhow</i> . . . is the only way to get a final (appealable, sure, but still FINAL) order by doing something like instituting a TEDRA action simultaneous with the petition for probate by which one asks the court in the TEDRA matter to
determine the will is valid AND MEANS (1) the testator was <u>testate</u> as to the gifts in the will, which are A, B, C, and D, and (2)
<u>intestate</u> as to property NOT addressed in the will (which is E, F, and catch-all G)?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(In Idaho, we can use the UPC’s concepts of “informal probate” (no hearing but will is not final for up to 12 months) or “formal probate” (hearing after notice OR waivers signed by all relevant parties). At least with the latter, a party
who does not even appear after valid advance notice cannot just come back later and contest the will’s validity.)
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is it really possible in Washington to not attend a hearing on notice and then have 4 months still to contest the order entered after notice and opportunity to be heard?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks, Josh <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Joshua D. McKarcher<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">McKarcher Law PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">537 6th Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Clarkston, WA 99403<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">(509) 758-3345<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">(509) 758-3314 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com"><span style="color:#0086F0">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.mckarcherlaw.com/"><span style="color:#0086F0">www.mckarcherlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>