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<p class="MsoNormal">It does happen on occasion, in my experience. Usually inexplicable because the reasons for it are private and, generally for related reasons, the beneficiary has no interest in explaining themselves to anybody.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If they are genuinely not <u>locatable</u>, then it’s an absentee distributee situation under RCW 11.76.200 et seq.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If they are (a) locatable and (b) refuse the funds but (c) are at least cooperative, maybe get them to sign an assignment of their beneficial interest over to the other 50% heir(s) or to somebody they want to give the money to. Or if you’re
within 9 months of DOD they could disclaim. But analyze what would happen to the interest in event of disclaimer under RCW 11.86.041.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If they are (a) locatable and (b) have affirmatively refused the funds but (c) are otherwise uncooperative, then it’s technically an intentional abandonment. I would ask the court for permission to turn it over to Dept of Revenue Unclaimed
Property Department, which gives the beneficiary at least a few years to change their mind before it escheats. (NOTE: The common law of intentional abandonment is kind of interesting. There might be other options. Call if you want to discuss.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If they are (a) locatable but (b) are totally uncooperative and won’t even affirmatively refuse, then it’s not really abandonment but I’d probably do the same as if it were abandoned. Just give that beneficiary notice of a hearing on the
question of whether to turn over to DOR-UCP.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I generally don’t use the court registry for this type of situation, though I think I did once or twice in the past with very small amounts where the beneficiary was locatable but uncooperative. I just deposited it and filed/served a notice
on the beneficiary that that’s what my PR did with the $1,000 or whatever.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Brent Williams-Ruth<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 12, 2026 3:45 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Beneficiary Not Participating<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Greetings List Members - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I have a strange situation. A beneficiary who is a 50% beneficiary (not huge, but a couple hundred thousand) has refused to participate. Have hired help to locate. Efforts are turning up nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">What is the best course of action? Deposit into the Court Registry? Give to the Department of Unclaimed Funds? Do the Court Registry and then they move it to the Unclaimed Funds after a certain
amount of time?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Never had anyone not want their money. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Brent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<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><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></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><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">Mailing Address:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><span style="color:red">(253) 285-7751</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">For All Meetings & Scheduling:
</span><a href="mailto:info@williams-ruthlaw.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">info@williams-ruthlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">e-mail</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><a href="http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">website</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> /</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">facebook</span></a><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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