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<p class="MsoNormal">First - The PR cannot close the probate with the pending litigation – did you name as plaintiff the PR of the Estate? The attorney handling the homestead petition should know this. All debts and assets need to be covered in the homestead.
By the way, the limit changed in 2019 and it is no longer $125k but based on the county in which the residence is located – see
<a href="https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2025/02/HMR-4Q2024-annual-medians.pdf">
https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2025/02/HMR-4Q2024-annual-medians.pdf</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Second – The court should not approve the petition for homestead UNTIL all assets / debts and administrative expenses are known. Granted, the WD claims may not provide any direct monies to the Estate, BUT again the PR of the Estate has
a duty to make the claims on behalf of the statutory beneficiaries, of which she is ONE of them. The spouse and children are in one category.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b>RCW 4.20.020<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Wrongful Death—Beneficiaries of Action.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Every action under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=4.20.010">4.20.010</a> <span style="color:red">shall be for the benefit of the spouse, state registered domestic partner, child or children,
including stepchildren, of the person whose death shall have been so caused</span>. If there is no spouse, state registered domestic partner, or such child or children, such action may be maintained for the benefit of the parents or siblings of the deceased.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Third, if the estate is closed, you can reopen and have a new PR appointed to continue the WD/MM claims. This is messier so the current PR should continue and not close OR she should resign and appoint a new PR who is willing to continue
the claims for WD/MM. Did the PR sign your fee agreement after she was appointed? I am sure you have put the PR’s independent atty in the homestead on notice of the pending claims but you may need to inform the court as well and file something before the
hearing on the petition.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="DE" style="font-size:26.0pt;font-family:"Rastanty Cortez";color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none">Dalynne Singleton</span></b><b><span style="font-size:26.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none"> </span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Dalynne Singleton</span></i></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Gourley Law Group</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Snohomish Escrow/The Exchange Connection</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">1002 10<sup>th</sup> Street / PO Box 1091</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Snohomish, WA 98291</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">360.568.5065</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">360.568.8092 fax</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com" target="_blank">dalynne@glgmail.com</a>
<u>Website: </u><a href="http://www.glglawgroup.com/" target="_blank">www.glglawgroup.com</a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Attorney/client meetings will be handled virtually whenever possible. If you would like to set a consultation, please call/email one my paralegals Valerie
<a href="mailto:valerie@glgmail.com">valerie@glgmail.com</a>, Erica <a href="mailto:erica@glgmail.com">
erica@glgmail.com</a>, or Theresa <a href="mailto:theresa@glgmail.com">theresa@glgmail.com</a>. Co-counsels at GLG are Attorney Carrie Ulrich (<a href="mailto:carrie@glgmail.com">carrie@glgmail.com</a> ), Spencer Clower (<a href="mailto:spencer@glgmail.com">spencer@glgmail.com</a>)
and Candace Wilkerson (<a href="mailto:candace@glgmail.com">candace@glgmail.com</a>). Litigation paralegals are Kristin Jacobs (<a href="mailto:kristin@glgmail.com">kristin@glgmail.com</a>) and Daina Gray (<a href="mailto:daina@glgmail.com">daina@glgmail.com</a>).
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:none">LICENSED IN WASHINGTON. IMPORTANT/CONFIDENTIAL: This e-mail message (and any attachments accompanying it) may contain confidential information, including information protected
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<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>Terry Gobel<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 19, 2025 1:50 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] PR Surviving Spouse Files Spousal Allowance Petition with Outside Counsel<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">Hi Listserve Colleagues – My PR Client is surviving spouse and was appointed to her deceased spouses probate estate. There is a minor teenage child from a prior relationship who is heir. The minor heir is
represented by a Probate GAL. My PR Client got a small life insurance policy payout. The probate just sold the family home and got a small net balance from sale. Out of those proceeds, I just got paid for my last 9 months of work on the estate. My PR Client
hired outside counsel and filed a spousal allowance petition. She seeks all of the net remaining probate estate cash (much less than the $125K contemplated by statute), free of liability for administrative expenses and other obligations. She also seeks closure
of the probate after payout to her, if the Court grants her petition. <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 am concerned for a couple of reasons. First, we have an active medical malpractice and wrongful death tort lawsuit that has been filed against Decedent’s last healthcare provider. If the probate closes,
we have no more ability to prosecute the tort suit in the name of Decedent, among other co-plaintiff heirs. Second, if my PR Client, as wife claimant via the spousal allowance petition drains the net remaining probate cash, how do we pay my office and the
Probate Minor GAL for fees and costs while the tort suit grinds away? Trial isn’t set until October 5, 2026.
<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">Please help me sort out the factual and legal issues here, including what my duties are if my PR Client, as surviving spouse, chooses to pursue her family support claim to the extinguishment of the probate,
thus killing the tort case. This is the first time I’ve encountered this conundrum. <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;mso-ligatures:none">Very truly yours,<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">Terry D. Gobel, J.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Gobel Law Office, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">421 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 908<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Spokane, Washington 99201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">(509) 624-4102<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"> 624-4115 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.attorneyinspokane.com">www.attorneyinspokane.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>
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