<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Hi Brent,</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">DSHS has an encrypted email address that title companies can use to request information as to whether they have a claim against a decedent's estate. They do require an unredacted death certificate to be sent along with the request. So it probably isn't suspicious, but one can't be too cautious these days!</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jen</div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><b>Jennifer M. Johnson</b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-size: 0.875rem;">Title Officer | Attorney</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;">Wahkiakum Title & Escrow Co.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;">Hanigan Law Office, PS</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;">68 Main Street / P.O. Box 39</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;">Cathlamet, WA 98612</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;">(360) 795-3494</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;">(360) 795-3001 (f)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;"><a href="http://www.wahtitle.com">www.wahtitle.com</a></span></p><div><br></div><div><span><strong data-start="1373" data-end="1400">Confidentiality Notice:</strong> This message and any attachments are intended only for the individual or entity to whom they are addressed and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged, or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message.</span><br></div><p><span><b>Disclaimer Notice:</b><span> </span>Email communication on the internet is NOT secure.<span> </span>There is a risk that this communication may be intercepted illegally, waiving any implied or explicit attorney-client or work-product privileges.</span><br></p><div><br></div>
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On Thursday, April 30th, 2026 at 8:13 AM, Brent Williams-Ruth <brent@williams-ruthlaw.com> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Colleagues - </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">For the first time, I have received a request from an escrow company saying that "<span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">DSHS is requesting an unredacted copy of the death certificate to clear DSHS paragraph. Please provide if available."</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">I have written a tax letter hundreds of times advising when I have sent the Notice to DSHS for potential liens; I have advised what I have been told by the PR for estate taxes and provided the link to the DOR website for estate tax thresholds. I have NEVER been asked to provide an unredacted death certificate to an escrow company. </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">I am also learning for the first time that the Escrow company works directly with DSHS. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br>Can anyone confirm that this isn't something suspicious?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Maybe I am getting to paranoid as I advance in age but this is leaving me feeling uneasy. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Appreciate any insights you may have to share. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Brent</span></p><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brent
Williams-Ruth</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> (pronouns: he/him)<br>
<i>Attorney-At-Law</i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law
Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font size="1">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</font></span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal
Way, WA 98003</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font color="#ff0000">Mailing Address:</font> </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling
Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><font color="#ff0000">(253) 285-7751</font></span></p><p><font color="#ff0000" face="Times New Roman, serif">For All Meetings & Scheduling: <a href="mailto:info@williams-ruthlaw.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">info@williams-ruthlaw.com</a></font></p><p>
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