<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif;font-size:large">Eric, </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif;font-size:large">Thanks for this wise counsel and analysis. Very glad to hear that you agree we're "in the clear." </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif;font-size:large">But if anybody else has other thoughts, I'll still be glad to hear them! </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif;font-size:large">Sarah</div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><span style="color:black"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Sarah O’Farrell McCarthy</font></span></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><b>(Pronouns: she / her)<br></b></font>Attorney*, Partner | <font color="#000000">Kelly, Arndt & Walker, <font color="#000000">Attorneys at Law, PLLP</font></font><font color="#000000"></font><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br></span><span style="color:black"><span style="color:black"><font color="#000000">P.O. Box 290 | </font></span></span></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">6443 Harding Avenue |</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">Clinton, WA 98236</span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><span style="color:black"><span style="color:black"><font color="#000000"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"></span></font></span></span>(Located on Whidbey Island, Island County, Washington)</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">* Licensed to practice in Washington (active) and California (inactive)<br><span style="color:black">Phone: (360) 341-1515 | Fax: (360) 341-3272<br><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><a><font color="#222222">sarah@kawlawyers.com</font></a> <font color="#000000">| <span style="color:black"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><font color="#000000"><a href="http://www.kawlawyers.com" target="_blank">www.kawlawyers.com</a></font></span></span></font></span></span></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><font size="3"><font size="3"><font size="3"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#0000ff" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><b>IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR DELIVERIES TO THIS OFFICE: </b></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#0000ff" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><b>For delivery by USPS, please send to PO Box 290, Clinton, WA 98236.</b></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#0000ff" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><b>For delivery by UPS or FedEX, please send to 6443 Harding Ave, Clinton WA 98236.</b></span></font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125);font-size:7.5pt">This electronic message transmission contains information from the law firm of Kelly, Arndt & Walker, PLLP which may be confidential or privileged. This information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above, If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any further review, disclosure, printing, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this electronic message transmission in error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete the original message. Thank you</span><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125);font-size:8pt">. </span></font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"></font><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:rgb(68,84,106);font-size:7.5pt"><font><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">We do not accept service of any kind by e-mail unless expressly authorized in writing by the attorney of record. This e-mail is NOT a contract and is not binding upon the author pursuant to CR 2A. This e-mail is, at most, a negotiation under ER 408.</font><br></font></span></p></font></font></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 12:51 PM Eric Nelsen <<a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.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="msg8107437882258240740">
<div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="m_8107437882258240740WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">I agree with your conclusion. If we’re talking the probate of first spouse to die, and it occurred 20-plus years ago, then I would be inclined to ignore the creditor claims filed in that probate, for several reasons.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="m_8107437882258240740MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">As you say--Creditors remain bound by statute of limitations on their own claims, and must comply with creditor claim process AND pursue the claim to completion before the S/L expires.
Creditors are able to force acceptance or rejection of their claims. RCW 11.40.080. So, I’d argue that creditors’ failure to follow through is the cause of their loss, not any breach by the PR.<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_8107437882258240740MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Twenty years ought to be justification to argue defense of laches, not just statute of limitations. Even if they could blame the PR for missing the S/L, they sat on their hands for
20+ years.<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_8107437882258240740MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">I’d bet that a lot of those claims were actually paid and the surviving spouse never bothered to get receipts or file proof of payment. I think this happens pretty commonly if the
surviving spouse isn’t too interested in crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s.<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_8107437882258240740MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">You also said that the second spouse died more than two years ago, which means that any possible claim they would have against PR would be against PR’s own estate—and that claim also
is barred by RCW 11.40.051. I understand the thought that S/L as to breach of duty in the first estate might not begin to run until the PR dies—but inevitably any such claim is a cause of action that would have to name PR’s Estate as a defendant, and as such
requires filing a creditor claim first and is subject to 2-year limit under RCW 11.40.051 as to PR’s own Estate.<u></u><u></u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think I wouldn’t worry about it further. Who knows how many probates have been left hanging in the courts over the decades.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1417+31st+Ave+South+%0D%0A+Seattle+WA+98144-3909?entry=gmail&source=g">
</a><p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1417+31st+Ave+South+%0D%0A+Seattle+WA+98144-3909?entry=gmail&source=g">1417 31st Ave South</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1417+31st+Ave+South+%0D%0A+Seattle+WA+98144-3909?entry=gmail&source=g">Seattle WA 98144-3909</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="tel:(206)%20625-0092" value="+12066250092" target="_blank">206-625-0092</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(225,225,225) currentcolor currentcolor;padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Sarah McCarthy<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 24, 2026 12:15 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>; Elder Law Section <<a href="mailto:elder-law-section@list.wsba.org" target="_blank">elder-law-section@list.wsba.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] SOL against PR where PR is never discharged, but then dies, and then 2 years pass?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Esteemed section members: </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">I've got a deceased PR who apparently didn't handle things correctly in a different estate - lots of creditor claims were filed that were apparently never dealt with,
and that other estate, in a different county, is STILL OPEN -- the court never made a CR 41 motion to close the estate for want of prosecution, even though the last court file activity was several years back. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">The PR has now died, more than 2 years ago. Now an estate is open for the PR's own estate. I'm trying to reassure myself that there is no possibility that the claimants
from this PRIOR estate could still have any ability to make a claim against the PR's own estate. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">1) Are an estate's alleged creditor's remedies for payment of debts owed by the decedent
<u>LIMITED </u>to the statutory remedies and procedures set forth in RCW 11.40, <u>
OR</u>, if </span>the<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"> creditor has procedurally complied with RCW 11.40, and then the PR of the estate doesn't properly handle creditor claims, does the alleged creditor then <u>ALSO
</u>have the right to assert a claim against the PR for breach of fiduciary duty - which has a longer statute of limitations, needing to be filed at any time before the PR is discharged? (RCW 11.96A.070). (I am hoping that the creditor is limited to the statutory
procedures, and not this longer statute of limitations.)</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">2) Even if the answer to this is that the creditor DOES have this additional remedy, making a claim against the PR for breach of fiduciary duty, would that potential claim
against the PR then be subject to the general 2-year creditor claim period against the PR's own estate, </span>
<span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">RCW 11.40.020(1)(b)(ii)</span><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">, if the PR has later died, and more than 2 years have passed? OR, would that potential claim against the PR be
a remedy available at any time prior to the discharge of the PR of the first estate, according to the SOL for claims against PRs set forth in </span><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Century,serif">RCW 11.96A.070? (I'm hoping that the 2 years
would be a bar.)</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">3) If the creditor gets to file their claim against the PR for breach of fiduciary anytime up to discharge of the PR under </span><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Century,serif">RCW
11.96A.070, does this claim expire based on the fact that the PR has now died? </span></b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">By my reading of RCW 11.68.060, the death of the PR does not serve to "automatically" discharge
the PR - there has to be other action taken to carry out the "discharge." (I'm hoping that the death of the PR would have the effect of switching the avenue for bringing a claim against the PR over into the PR's own separate estate, and thus subject to the
2-year period on claims.)</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">If you want more detail: </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">JANE died 20+ years ago. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Spouse JOE appointed as PR </span>
<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">20+</span> <span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">
years </span> <span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">ago. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">JOE is also 100% beneficiary of JANE's estate. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">20+ creditor claims were filed against JANE's estate, all filed 20+ years ago. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">JOE never filed anything with the court to allow or reject any of the claims. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">None of the creditors against JANE's estate ever took action to pursue the claims further. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Given the 20+ year passage of time, it seems clear that the SOL on all creditor claims has now passed, since they took no further action to pursue their claims beyond
the initial filings. </span>See <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Century,serif">In re Estate of Henington, 331 P.3d 112, 115 (Wash. App. 2014). </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">JOE then died. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">JANE's estate is still open with the court. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Nothing was filed with the court in JANE's estate to notify anyone that JOE has died, nor to appoint a successsor PR of JANE's estate. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">JOE's estate has now been opened, in a different county than JANE's estate. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">More than 2 years have now passed since JOE's death. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Am I right that the creditors of JANE's estate don't need to be given further consideration by the PR of JOE's estate, given that a) they didn't do anything to further
pursue their claims in JANE's estate, after JOE failed to respond to their initial claims, and b) they didn't assert a creditor claim against JOE's estate within the 2 years? </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">I *think* that the creditors' only legal remedies are the procedures set forth in RCW 11.40, and that if they didn't pursue those further, then they are now out of luck,
and the SOLs on their creditor claims have now long expired given the 20+ year passage of time. </span> See <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Century,serif">In re Estate of Henington, 331 P.3d 112, 115 (Wash. App. 2014) (discussing RCW 11.40.051(2): "We
hold that the mere filing of a creditor's claim in a probate case, without any further action by the claimant or the PR, does not toll the statute of limitations."). </span> <span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"> </span> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Century,serif"> </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">So,
even if a successor PR for JANE's estate were to be appointed, those creditors would be out of luck. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">I also *think* that, even if the creditors did have some claim against the PR JOE for breach of his fiduciary duty in managing JANE's estate, such as a claim that he didn't
correctly deal with JANE's creditors, the fact that it's now been 2+ years since JOE's death, the creditors have lost their ability to assert a claim against JOE's own estate. </span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">RCW 11.40.020(1)(b)(ii). </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Thanks for any insight!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Sarah<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
<u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p style="margin:0in"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Sarah O’Farrell McCarthy</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">(Pronouns: she / her)<br>
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Attorney*, Partner |
<span style="color:black">Kelly, Arndt & Walker, Attorneys at Law, PLLP</span><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br>
</span><span style="color:black">P.O. Box 290 | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/6443+Harding+Avenue+%7C+Clinton,+WA+98236?entry=gmail&source=g">6443 Harding Avenue |</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/6443+Harding+Avenue+%7C+Clinton,+WA+98236?entry=gmail&source=g">Clinton, WA</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/6443+Harding+Avenue+%7C+Clinton,+WA+98236?entry=gmail&source=g">98236</a></span></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">(Located on Whidbey Island, Island County, Washington)</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">* Licensed to practice in Washington (active) and California (inactive)<br>
Phone: <a href="tel:(360)%20341-1515" target="_blank">(360) 341-1515</a> | Fax: <a href="tel:(360)%20341-3272" target="_blank">
(360) 341-3272</a><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="mailto:sarah@kawlawyers.com" target="_blank">sarah@kawlawyers.com</a></span><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">|
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