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<p class="MsoNormal">I find these claims a bit complicated. Since the overpayment arose after death, it isn’t really a claim against the decedent, but against the family who received and kept the money after her death. Though perhaps some other statute of limitations
has barred this claim, I’m not sure the 2 year bar under 11.40.051 applies. (I’m not sure it doesn’t either).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My analysis might vary if we are talking about a partial month or maybe two months vs. continuing for much longer than that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have always advised clients to start with the money coming into our out of a decedent’s account and appropriately notify those parties as soon as possible.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:#1F497D">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D">(she/her)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D">Attorney-at-Law</span></i><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">3909 California Avenue SW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">Seattle, WA 98116-3705
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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>Sara D. Longley<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, August 3, 2026 4:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] City of Seattle pension clawback,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A quick gut check: a former client contacted me today regarding the estate of his mother, who passed away in 2018. She was a City of Seattle retiree and received a monthly pension. Her estate was handled with a Small Estate Affidavit,
and no Notice to Creditors was published.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After all this time, the City of Seattle sent the heirs a letter saying there was an overpayment of the pension and asking for repayment from the estate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t see how the City can get around the 2-year claim period, but as always I don’t know what I don’t know. If anyone can think of a reason why my former client should worry about this bill I would love to hear from you.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sara<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:.1pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#02A2C4;mso-ligatures:none">Sara D. Longley</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><a href="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Sara_Longley.vcf" title=""Download VCARD for Sara D. Longley""><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#DA621E;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="16" height="12" style="width:.1666in;height:.125in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/enev.gif"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:sara.longley@practus.com" title="Email Sara D. Longley"><span style="color:#124E65">sara.longley@practus.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://practus.com/attorney/sara-d-longley/" title="View Biography for Sara D. Longley"><span style="color:#DA621E">My Bio</span></a> | <span style="color:#DA621E"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradlongley/" title="View LinkedIn for Sara D. Longley"><span style="color:#DA621E">Connect
on LinkedIn</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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