<div dir="ltr"><div>Interesting! My read is that you only have to notify the person entitled to the property under the will, not the people who would be entitled to the property under intestacy. This is because 11.62.005(2)(a)(i) defines successor as either the taker under the will <u>or</u> under intestacy laws, not both.</div><div><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">Ann Manley, Esq.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">The Manley Law Firm, P.S., Inc.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">PO Box 16324</span><br><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">Seattle, WA 98116</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><a value="+12062923064">(206)292-3064</a> / <a value="+12062923914">(206)292-3914</a> fax</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><a href="http://www.manleyfirm.com" target="_blank">www.manleyfirm.com</a></span></div><p><b style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The Manley Law Firm practice areas include Bankruptcy*, Estate Planning, Auto Accidents, Civil Litigation, Construction, Commercial and Contract Law, Personal injury, Small Business, Unemployment Claims, Wage Loss and Compensation claims</span></i></b><br></p><p><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:8pt">* The Manley Law Firm is a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.</span></i><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"></span></i></p><p><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">This email and any files transmitted with it are privileged, confidential, and intended solely to whom they are addressed. Any unauthorized use, copying, review or disclosure is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender.</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"></span></p></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at 5:25 PM Sara D. Longley <<a href="mailto:sara.longley@practus.com">sara.longley@practus.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-1146760870443868689">
<div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="m_-1146760870443868689WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello listmates,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A client needs to claim their parent’s small bank account using a Small Estate Affidavit. They have a half-brother, but have not been in touch with him for at least 15 years and have no idea where he may be. There is a Will, and the half-brother
is explicitly disinherited.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I read RCW 11.62.005(2)(a)(i) to define “successor” as including all beneficiaries and intestate heirs, and 11.62.010(2)(h) as requiring written notice to all other successors. I am curious to know if anyone would interpret the definition
of “successor” as <i>either</i> the beneficiaries under the Will <i>or</i> the intestate heirs.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The language in question: <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">"Successor" and "successors" shall mean… That person or those persons who are entitled to the claimed property pursuant to the terms and provisions of the last
will and testament of the decedent or by virtue of the laws of intestate succession contained in this title;…</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Giving notice seems pointless in this case since the half-brother has zero chance of claiming any estate assets (I drafted the will, and the client was very firm on the decision to disinherit him). On top of that, the expense of locating
him may well exceed the value of the bank account.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any thoughts? <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Friday!<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sara<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<p style="margin:0.1pt;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><font color="#02a2c4"><strong>Sara D. Longley</strong></font> <a href="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Sara_Longley.vcf" title="Download VCARD for Sara D. Longley" style="color:rgb(218,98,30);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/enev.gif" alt="" width="16" height="12" border="0"></a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-right:15px"><font color="#02a2c4">Associate</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-top:6px"><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/practus.png" alt="Practus Logo" align="left" width="173"></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right:5px;padding-top:6px"><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/phone.png" alt="Phone" align="left"></td><td style="padding-top:8px;padding-bottom:2px"><font color="#124E65">(360) 378-4450 (Main Office)</font></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/phone.png" alt="Phone" align="left"></td><td style="padding-bottom:2px"><font color="#124E65">(360) 468-7230 (Direct Dial)</font></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/email.png" alt="Email" valign="center" align="left"></td><td style="padding-bottom:2px"><a href="mailto:sara.longley@practus.com" id="m_-1146760870443868689emaillink" title="Email Sara D. Longley" style="color:rgb(18,78,101);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">sara.longley@practus.com</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/bio.png" alt="Biography" valign="center" align="left"></td><td style="padding-bottom:2px"><a href="https://practus.com/attorney/sara-d-longley/" title="View Biography for Sara D. Longley" style="color:rgb(218,98,30);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">My Bio</a> | <font color="#DA621E"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradlongley/" title="View LinkedIn for Sara D. Longley" style="color:rgb(218,98,30);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Connect on LinkedIn</a></font></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
WSBAPT mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a></div></blockquote></div>