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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hi Jeanne,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I have the same confusion that you do about that statute. I think it’s just badly drafted. I can’t make sense of the instruction to “add to the time” for filing a claim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Examples:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Publication Jan 1, 4-months ends May 1, vacancy occurs Jun 1 and publication of notice of succession on Jun 5: add 4 days? That means May 5 instead of
May 1, but publication doesn’t even start until Jun 5. So it retroactively makes valid a late creditor claim filed on May 3?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Publication on Jan 1, vacancy occurs Feb 1 and publication of notice of succession on Feb 5: add 4 days. That again extends to May 5 instead of May 1.
This makes a little bit more sense, but only for dates within the first four months after initial publication—and yet the statute says you have to publish notice of succession at any time in the first 24 months after date of death. What is the point of that?
I suppose for “reasonably ascertainable” creditors who were not given actual notice, it alerts them to the change in who to serve with the claim; but “adding days” has no effect on those creditors, who are under the 2-year bar no matter what, and the 2-year
bar is not extended by the vacancy.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">My solution at this point is to just strictly follow the statute, publish the notice of vacancy and succession that quotes the language from the statute about “adding time”, and hope nobody files a creditor
claim. So far, that has worked for me—no claims filed, so I’ve never had to figure out whether the PR should assert that it was or wasn’t timely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></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"> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jeanne Dawes<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, August 6, 2025 2:49 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Notice to Creditors upon vacancy and succession of PR<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:"Calibri",sans-serif">Listmates,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I am having a bit of confusion about the number of days to add to the claim period when a new PR is appointed. The vacancy and succession appointment occurred in the same order entered August
4. The first publication date for the Notice will be August 8 -- 4 days. The original claim period expired August 4, so the 4 day add-on means it would be extended to August 8. If that is the case why are we publishing twice (2 successive weeks)? Does
anyone disagree that claim period is extended by 4 days according to the statute?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">If anyone has had experience with this, I would love to chat. My deadline for changing the publication notice (if it needs to be changed) is tomorrow at noon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Here is the statute:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">RCW </span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif"><a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.150"><b><span style="color:#2B674D">11.40.150</span></b></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Notice to creditors when personal representative resigns, dies, or is removed</span></b><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">—</span></b><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Limit
tolled by vacancy.</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">(1) If a personal representative has given notice under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.020"><b><span style="color:#2B674D">11.40.020</span></b></a> and
then resigns, dies, or is removed, the successor personal representative shall:</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">(a)
<span style="color:black;background:yellow">Publish notice of the vacancy and succession for two successive weeks in the legal newspaper</span> in which notice was published under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.020"><b><span style="color:#2B674D">11.40.020</span></b></a> if
the vacancy occurred within twenty-four months after the decedent's date of death; and</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">(b) Provide actual notice of the vacancy and succession to a creditor if: (i) The creditor filed a claim and the claim had not been accepted or rejected by the prior
personal representative; or (ii) the creditor's claim was rejected and the vacancy occurred within thirty days after rejection of the claim.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">(2)
<span style="color:black;background:yellow">The time between the resignation, death, or removal and first publication of the vacancy and succession</span> or, in the case of actual notice, the mailing of the notice of vacancy and succession
<span style="color:black;background:yellow">must be added to the time within which a claim must be presented</span> or a suit on a rejected claim must be filed. This section does not extend the twenty-four month self-executing bar under RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.40.051"><b><span style="color:#2B674D">11.40.051</span></b></a>.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"TypoUpright BT",serif">Jeanne J.</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"TypoUpright BT",serif">Dawes</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Attorney at Law</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Gore & Grewe, P.S.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">103 E. Indiana Avenue, Suite A</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Spokane, WA 99207-2317</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Voice: 509-326-7500</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Fax: 509-326-7503</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:jjdawes@goregrewe.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">jjdawes@goregrewe.com</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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