In the event that a person is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit due to the loss of a loved one, Washington state law requires that a Personal Representative be appointed on behalf of the deceased’s estate. In other states, a personal representative is often referred to as the Executor.
Essentially, the person who serves as the Personal Representative acts on behalf of the deceased person’s estate and is given authority by the court to file suit for the purpose of recovering damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit cannot be prosecuted until a personal representative is appointed by the court. This means that a probate action must first be completed so that a personal representative is appointed.
Probate Actions Come First
A probate action is a special type of legal proceeding that addresses the management and finalization of the deceased person’s estate. Assets and liabilities are accounted for, and any remaining proceeds and assets are divided up among surviving relatives according to a will (if one exists) or based on the intestate statute if no will exists. Once this occurs, the wrongful death lawsuit may then begin.
Who Can File A Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim can be filed on behalf of the survivors who are suffering damage from the death of their loved one. The representative is generally the executor of the victim’s estate.
These people are considered “real parties in interest” in legal terms, and often vary in different states. Again, keep in mind that all cases are unique are sometimes this may differ depending on the situation.
The beneficiaries who have the authority to file a wrongful death suit include:
- Immediate family members. Immediate family members like spouses and children and parents of unmarried children can recover damages under wrongful death.
- Life partners, financial dependents, and putative spouses. A domestic or life partner, anyone who was financially dependent on the decedent, and a "putative spouse" (a person who had a good faith belief that he or she was married to the victim) have a right of compensation. This is in some states.
- Distant family members. Some states allow more distant family members, such as brothers, sisters, and grandparents, to bring wrongful death lawsuits. For example, a grandparent who is raising a child may be able to bring an action (which is why all cases are unique and differ based on the situation).
- Someone who suffers financially. Some states allow all persons who suffer financially from the death to bring a wrongful death action for lost care or support, even if they are not related by blood or marriage to the victim.
- Parents of a deceased fetus. In Washington state, the death of a fetus can be the basis for a wrongful death suit. In several other states, parents cannot bring a wrongful death action to recover for financial and emotional losses resulting from the death of a fetus. This is all dependent on the state laws.
Who Can Be The Personal Representative?
Technically, anyone can be appointed to serve as the personal representative (PR) in a wrongful death lawsuit. However, the court will usually prefer someone who is reputable and trustworthy. Someone with a criminal background, especially one involving dishonesty or fraud, may be excluded by the court. Oftentimes, the personal representative is a surviving family member or a good friend of the deceased. Sometimes a professional, like another lawyer, can be appointed as the personal representative.
Although there can only be one wrongful death lawsuit, Washington law recognizes that more than one claim may be pursued in the same case. In one claim, an action is brought to recover damages on behalf of the estate (like funeral and healthcare expenses, the deceased’s lost future earnings, etc.).
In the other claim, a lawsuit can be brought to recover damages for each surviving beneficiary designated by the wrongful death statute. A surviving spouse may recover separate damages for the destruction of the marital relationship. Each surviving child may recover separate damages for the loss of the parent-child relationship. The damages claimed by each beneficiary are usually distinct and separate from the damages claimed by the estate.
The Personal Representative who brings the wrongful death case will have a fiduciary (i.e., heightened or enhanced) obligation to the other interested parties in the action (like other beneficiaries). This means that the personal representative has a legal duty to protect the interests of the estate and all beneficiaries who may have a right to recover damages in the case. The failure to fulfill this duty may subject the personal representative to legal liability and/or damages.
Children As Beneficiaries In A Wrongful Death Claim
If the deceased has minor children, then they are considered beneficiaries of the estate and a wrongful death lawsuit is pursued on behalf of the children. When minor children are involved, they will have a claim for expected contributions that the deceased parent would have made to them until age 18 – the age of majority in Washington state.
For example, contributions for basic living necessities and other expenses like school and/or college are recoverable. Each child also has a monetary claim for the loss of that child’s relationship with the deceased parent. This is also called a loss of consortium claim, which encompasses the child’s loss of love, protection, guidance, and affection that would have been expected from the deceased parent.
A surviving adult child may also have a claim for the wrongful death of a parent. Unless the adult child was financially dependent on the parent, the claim is usually limited to the child’s loss of his or her relationship with the parent. This is a subjective loss, so the value of the claim will depend on the strength of the relationship between the adult child and the deceased parent.
Free Legal Consultation With Our Wrongful Death Attorneys
The award-winning team of Washington wrongful death lawyers at Davis Law Group have more than 25 years of experience representing families who have lost a loved one due to another party's negligence. Our legal team can help you better understand your legal rights and options after a devastating accident.
Call our office in Seattle at (206) 727-4000 or use the confidential contact form on this page to request a free legal consultation with Seattle's top-rated wrongful death attorneys. There is no obligation to hire us, and our clients only owe attorney's fees if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
