<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)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><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;}
@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;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
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="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Surprisingly, the name on the birth certificate isn’t conclusive proof, and without additional evidence doesn’t even necessarily raise a presumption of parentage. Congratulations, you have won a ramble through
the Uniform Parentage Act! See <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A&full=true">
Ch. 26.26A RCW</a>. See <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A&full=true#26.26A.100">
RCW 26.26A.100</a> to start:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Establishment of parent-child relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A parent-child relationship is established between an individual and a child if:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(1) The individual gives birth to the child, except as otherwise provided in RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.700"><b>26.26A.700</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.785"><b>26.26A.785</b></a>;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(2) There is a presumption under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.115"><b>26.26A.115</b></a> of the individual's parentage of the child, unless the presumption
is overcome in a judicial proceeding or a valid denial of parentage is made under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.200"><b>26.26A.200</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.265"><b>26.26A.265</b></a>;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(3) The individual is adjudicated a parent of the child under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.400"><b>26.26A.400</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.515"><b>26.26A.515</b></a>;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(4) The individual adopts the child;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(5) The individual acknowledges parentage of the child under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.200"><b>26.26A.200</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.265"><b>26.26A.265</b></a>,
unless the acknowledgment is rescinded under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.235"><b>26.26A.235</b></a> or successfully challenged under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.200"><b>26.26A.200</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.265"><b>26.26A.265</b></a> or <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.400"><b>26.26A.400</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.515"><b>26.26A.515</b></a>;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(6) The individual's parentage of the child is established under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.600"><b>26.26A.600</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.635"><b>26.26A.635</b></a>;
or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(7) The individual's parentage of the child is established under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.705"><b>26.26A.705</b></a> through <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.26A.730"><b>26.26A.730</b></a>.<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">For advising a PR, I have generally thought that an actual parentage action is not necessarily required; I would look at the available evidence and evaluate what the likely outcome would be with the Parentage
Act as a guideline. The PR’s duty is to ascertain who the heirs are, using the best available evidence; if the PR can’t figure it out definitively, then providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to any disputants is (I think) the PR’s duty.<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">Note—I don’t know the requirements to get someone’s name on a birth certificate as the father. If the birth certificate forms meet the requirements for a father’s acknowledgment of parentage—see RCW 26.26A.200
et seq.—then I think that would be pretty definitive that the child is an heir.<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">So, I think a PR generally has four choices based on the evidence available, which differ mainly in who has the burden to start litigation to protect their rights: (1) take the position that the alleged child
is NOT an heir, and force the child to litigate to prove parentage; (2) take the opposite position and force the other heirs to file a TEDRA to deny parentage (they can’t use Parentage Act because they don’t have standing under RCW 26.26A.405); (3) start either
a TEDRA or a Parentage Act case directly (PR has standing under RCW 26.26A.405(7)); and advocate for one or the other result; (4) take no firm position but force everybody into mediation and find a settlement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Timothy Lehr<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:41 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Unknown heir coming into probate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have an intestate probate where two sisters survived dad, who passed away. They vaguely knew of another girl that claimed to be a daughter of dad with a different mom from 30+ years ago. This girl is known drug user and not very communicative.
They don’t believe she is a blood relative. We had no contact info for the girl but published notice to allow for her to come into the picture if she was legitimate. No word from her.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, we’re months along in the probate and the two sisters have agreed to distributions of dad’s estate. The unknown girl has now presented a birth certificate with dad’s name on it, but that’s it. She hasn’t filed anything in the probate
but is asking for money. What is the proper process to address this and is a birth certificate all the proof she needs to be determined to be an heir? Is the burden on her to file something in the probate or does PR have a duty to connect with her and determine
legitimacy? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is my first crack at this type of issue and looking for any helpful procedural tips to get started.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Timothy C. Lehr<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Attorney & Partner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="191" height="69" style="width:1.9895in;height:.7187in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DC1CB1.0DB2E810"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">p: 360.855.0131<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">e: <a href="mailto:timothy@stileslaw.com">
timothy@stileslaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">w: <a href="http://www.stileslaw.com/">
www.stileslaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">NOTICE</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">: The information contained in this email is proprietary and/or confidential and may be privileged. If you are not the
intended recipient of this communication, you are hereby notified to : (i) delete the email and all copies; (ii) not disclose, distribute or use the email in any manner; (iii) notify the sender immediately. Thank you.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>