Douglas N Kiger's Answers

What reimbursement is my mother entitled to as PR of my grandmother's estate?

Yes, she can be reimbursed for her expenses, but she needs to file a receipt with the court for any expenses over $25 (any expenses under $25 do not require a receipt). Also, as mentioned in the previous answer, it is probably a good idea to get court approval of the expenses. However, in Washington, depending on the circumstances, it may be possbile to get reimbursed without court approval. Whether court approval should be obtained depends on the circumstances of the case and may be something...

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Can I close the probate and still pursue a legal issue concerning the decedent?

No, I don't believe you should close the probate. Some claims that you are talking about would have to be brought in the name of the decedent and you need the probate open in order to do that. I assume the "one year" date you are referring to is the review date with the court to check on progress in the case. Attending a hearing like that involves minimal effort. Once you file the declaration of completion the probate is closed, so you can't file those documents and still keep the estate open....

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Do the joint owners of assets inherit the entire asset even if the estate goes to probate?

There are some unique Washington twists on the answers already provided to this question. Yes, generally speaking an asset that is owned by joint tenants with a right of survivorship pass to the surviving joint owner (or beneficiary in the case of an IRA or other accounts where a beneficiary is named). When the account is jointly owned with right of survivorship, or when there is a named beneficiary, it is considered a "non-probate" asset and will pass to the joint owner or beneficiary...

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Can I file a lien on a dwelling for structure cleaning services performed?

You might be able to depending on the circumstances. It is probably something you should speak to a lawyer about to make sure the pre-requisities have been met to file a lien. You probably need to be registered as a contractor and have given certan notices before or during the work you performed. You might take a look at the FAQs on our websited located at http://www.bladokiger.com/CM/Custom/FAQ.asp. In particular, look at questions 8-11, 13, and 14.

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As a beneficiary on my dad's will how are the taxes supposed to be paid on the distribution money I've received?

I see Mr. Eaton got a "thumbs down" for his answer, but he is basically right. Generally speaking, the beneficiary is not going to have to pay taxes on the distribution from the estate (assuming any taxes are even due). Depending on the size of the estate, there may not be any taxes due. If taxes are due those are usually payable by the estate prior to the distriubtion. There may be additional unstated facts about your situation that could lead to a different answer, but given the information...

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If a title company misses a lien, are they required to pay the lienholder?

The quick answer to your question is that yes, the insurance company would be required to pay the lienholder. But that obligation is owed to the homeowner, not to you. There may be reasons known to your attorney why the insurance company may be trying to negotiate paying you a lower amount - such as questions regarding the validity of your lien. But I cannot determine that from the facts included in your question. If your lien is valid and in first position, then you could foreclose, which is...

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I live in the State of Washington. Child support modification was granted without grounds. Should I appeal?

The general question is difficult to answer without having an opportunity to review the pleadings filed in the case. However, since the case was decided by a Court Commissioner you would likely need to file a motion to revise the decision (which would be heard by a Superior Court Judge) in order to preserve any appeal rights you might have. You should review the local rules in your county to see if there are any timelines on when such a motion needs to be filed. Whether it is worth the...

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Can using a real estate attorney vs a real estate agent save us money if we have already found a buyer and agreed on a price?

I agree with the former answer. If buyer and seller have already found each other there probably isn't any reason to involve a real estate agent. The attorney's fees should be considerably less than any commission to an agent, plus you get the benefit of legal advice, which an agent cannot give you. Just to have the attorney prepare the purchase and sale agreement for you will probably only cost a few hundred dollars (more if you want more attorney involvement as described in the previous...

I signed a Independent Contractor's Agreement for a promotional modeling company. I need to know if I am breaching and if valid

You have quite a few issues there. If you are within a 100 mile radius the restriction probably applies to you; being in a different state should not matter. If you are not owning a business and are just working for another then you may not be in violation of the agreement as you have described it. But many of these contracts have non-compete language that prevents you from working for a similar company as well. I would not rely on any verbal permission the company gave you that appears...

In Wa state, do community property laws apply to a couple together 15 year but never married ?

Washington does not recognize "common law marriages," and community property laws do not automatically apply to such a relationship. However, Washington recognizes something referred to as committed intimate relationships (also referred to as meretricious relationships). Whether such a relationship exists depends on a long list of factors. If such a relationship is found to exist, a court may apply rules similar to community property laws in deciding ownership interests in the event of a...