HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 489

BYRepresentatives Appelwick and P. King 

Revising provisions on probate.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (15)

     Signed by Representatives Armstrong, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Hargrove, Heavey, P. King, Lewis, Locke, Moyer, Niemi, Padden, Patrick, Scott, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:Charlie Gavigan (786-7392)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY FEBRUARY 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The statutes provide a streamlined method of disposing of estates under $10,000.  Persons who owe money to the decedent or who have personal property in their possession belonging to the decedent are required to pay the debt or turn the personal property over to the successor.  A successor is a person entitled to the payment or personal property through the will, community property principals (surviving spouse), or laws of intestate succession.

The debtor or person in possession of the personal property is required to satisfy the successor's request after certain requirements have been met.  These requirements include that the successor notify the inheritance tax division of the state Department of Revenue of his claim at least ten days prior to taking possession of the payment or personal property.

The inheritance tax division of the Department of Revenue has been discontinued.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The requirement that a successor notify the inheritance tax division of the state Department of Revenue that the successor has a claim under this chapter is removed.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  An emergency clause is added to make the provision effective immediately.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Prime Sponsor.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Housekeeping measure to make statutes consistent with present department structure.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.