<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Melinda:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This probably does not answer your specific question, but I have an elderly widower client in a similar situation who rented his farm property to tenants who brought in livestock (horses and chickens) and are living on and using the property appropriately to continue to qualify for the agricultural exemption. The tenants are paying a lower rent because they are maintaining/upgrading the semi neglected property (barn, shop, etc.), so it is a win-win for tenants and owner. Not sure if your client could do something similar?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jim Dolan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>===================<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jones Butler Dolan, PS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>jbdolan@jbdolan.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mount Vernon<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>P.O. Box 2784<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>720 South Main Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Suite 233<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mount Vernon, WA 98273<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Telephone: 360-336-2939<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Facsimile: 360-336-2949<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Stanwood<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>P.O. Box 458<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>10027 - 269th Place NW (SR 532)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Stanwood, WA 98292<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Telephone: 360-629-3833<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Facsimile: 360-629-6253<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Melinda Grout<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 14, 2014 2:24 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Property tax exemption denial MORE<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Along these lines…<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>how would one handle a situation where elderly client has open space/farming exemption but is no longer actively farming? Client is competent but definitely has been on the slow side for a few years. The statute talks about duties of length of use, notification of change of use, and penalties, but has anyone successfully argued lack of knowledge as a mitigating factor?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Regards,<br><br>Melinda Grout<br>Law Office of Melinda K Grout, PS<br>17325 W. Main Street / P.O. Box 1360<br>Monroe, WA 98272<br>360-794-4322 / Fax: 425-744-6745<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:black'>Emphasizing Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law<br><a href="http://mkgroutlaw.com">mkgroutlaw.com</a><br><br>NOTE: <br>1. This office does not accept service of pleadings or process service by e-mail or fax except with the express prior permission of the intended recipient.<br>2. This email address is not monitored at all times. If your matter is urgent, please phone my office.<br>3. I do not use encrypted email. Messages sent to or from my office via email are not secure.<br>4. This email may contain confidential material protected by attorney/client privilege, and is intended for use solely by the above referenced recipient. Any review, copying, printing, disclosure, distribution, or other use is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the named recipient, or may have received this email in error, please reply to sender and delete the copy you received. <br>5. This message does not provide any legal advice, imply an attorney-client relationship, and does not contain the signature of the sender or any other party. You are not a client of this law firm unless you have paid a retainer and signed an attorney/client agreement for representation on a particular matter.<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></body></html>