[WSBARP] To Probate or to TEDRA

[Eric Nelsen]

I would be inclined to get son appointed as Administrator-PR and use that as authority to demand accounting, etc., and turnover of all estate assets to the PR. If you know where bank accounts are, you probably could get an order directing the banks to turn over all funds to the PR. If the Will shows up, fine; but if not, you are already a step ahead in authority to act. The TEDRA route leaves you with only discovery authority, no means to control assets, etc.

May be some more avenues in the Guardianship action, too. If daughter was guardian, there's maybe a bond, and she would have a duty to account to a PR.

Sincerely,

Eric

Eric C. Nelsen
SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC
1417 31st Ave South
Seattle WA  98144-3909
phone 206-625-0092
fax 206-625-9040

Please Note that We Have Moved. We have moved our Seattle office to Mount Baker Ridge (a small commercial community just above the I-90 tunnel). Our new address is 1417 31st Avenue South, Seattle WA 98144. All other contact information remains the same.

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Jim Doran
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2017 11:53 AM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv
Subject: [WSBARP] To Probate or to TEDRA

Hello Probate and TEDRA Attorneys:
I do not know if I should do a probate in this situation or file a TEDRA Petition.  Any suggestions will be appreciated.

I have a situation where the mother, who had been in a court appointed guardianship, has passed away.  The daughter will not come forward with a Will.  The son is pretty sure that there is a Will.  The daughter will not respond to any calls, letters or even a knock on her door.  She is hiding.  There are substantial assets.  Some were frozen in the guardianship but the son is afraid that the daughter is spending the unprotected funds.

Do I open an intestate probate action and bring on a show cause hearing for the daughter to produce the Will and to give an accounting?  Or is this better done in a TEDRA Petition?    There is no real property.  Can the show cause be done in the TEDRA action?

What is the better way to proceed?

Jim Doran
James R. Doran
Attorney at Law
100 E. Pine Street -  Suite 205
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360)393-9506
jim at doranlegal.com<mailto:jim at doranlegal.com>
www.doranlegal.com<http://www.doranlegal.com>
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