<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;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Book Antiqua";
panose-1:2 4 6 2 5 3 5 3 3 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Rastanty Cortez";}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cataneo BT";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
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><!--[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="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Depending on your county of filing, you should put into ADR (mediation and/or arbitration) and then do a little discovery as well. Present your case and see if any settlement can be reached.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Do you have a trial date? That would also give you some hard deadlines to file for discovery, ADR, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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"><span style="color:#467886">dalynne@glgmail.com</span></a>
<u>Website: </u><a href="http://www.glglawgroup.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">www.glglawgroup.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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"><span style="color:#467886">valerie@glgmail.com</span></a>, Erica
<a href="mailto:erica@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">erica@glgmail.com</span></a>, Bill
<a href="mailto:bill@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">bill@glgmail.com</span></a> or part time paralegal Theresa
<a href="mailto:theresa@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">theresa@glgmail.com</span></a>. Co-counsels at GLG are Attorney Carrie Ulrich (<a href="mailto:carrie@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">carrie@glgmail.com</span></a> ), Spencer Clower
(<a href="mailto:spencer@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">spencer@glgmail.com</span></a>) and Candace Wilkerson (<a href="mailto:candace@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">candace@glgmail.com</span></a>). Litigation paralegal is Daina Gray (<a href="mailto:daina@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">daina@glgmail.com</span></a>).
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;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
by attorney-client privilege. The information is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). Delivery of this message to anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is not intended to waive any privilege or otherwise detract from the confidentiality
of the message. If you are not the intended recipient, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, do not read, disclose, reproduce, distribute, disseminate or otherwise use this transmission, rather, please promptly notify the sender by reply
e-mail, and then destroy all copies of the message and its attachments, if any.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="84" height="117" style="width:.875in;height:1.2187in" id="Picture_x0020_237546830" src="cid:image002.gif@01DCC1FB.3A8A0C70">
<img border="0" width="155" height="120" style="width:1.6145in;height:1.25in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.png@01DCC1FB.3A8A0C70"> <img border="0" width="115" height="96" style="width:1.1979in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image004.png@01DCC1FB.3A8A0C70"><img border="0" width="173" height="133" style="width:1.802in;height:1.3854in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image005.png@01DCC1FB.3A8A0C70"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><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;mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Kate Szurek<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 1, 2026 4:44 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] managing a creditor's claim<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our decedent and her late husband were cared for by live-in married couple (caregiver and gardener). After the second death, the couple filed a substantial creditor’s claim (over $100K) saying only that they “devoted years to [the decedents’]
care.” True, but all along they received free room and board for themselves and their 3 children, in separate living quarters (a nice guest house on the property), plus reasonable compensation, gas, food . . . We also let them remain for several months after
the second death so they could watch the place, provide maintenance, and find suitable housing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We rejected the claim; they brought suit; we made a counterclaim (place was left with food exposed and filled with vermin) and later a settlement offer. A few unproductive phone conferences and well over a year later, nothing is happening.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ideas for how to shake this loose --- that doesn’t involve a flood of paperwork generating attorney’s fees?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance, oh experienced ones.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kate<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Cataneo BT";color:blue">Kate Szurek</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">, J.D., LL.M. (in Taxation)</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:kate@skagitlaw.com"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue">kate@skagitlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="192" height="50" style="width:2.0in;height:.5208in" id="x_Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image006.jpg@01DCC1FB.3A8A0C70" alt="SkagitLaw_Signature (2)"></span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">Skagit Law Group, PLLC</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">P.O. Box 336 / 227 Freeway Drive, Suite B</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">Mount Vernon, WA 98273</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">360.336.1000</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">360.336.6690 (fax)</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.skagitlaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">http://www.skagitlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>