Probate scam exposed? WA Attorney General sues companies over allegedly stolen estates worth millions
Mar 6, 2025, 3:30 PM
In a recent consumer protection lawsuit, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office has accused several local companies of manipulating the probate system to "unlawfully gain control of deceased strangers’ estates." (Photo: Lindsey Wasson, AP, Jan. 23, 2025.)
(Photo: Lindsey Wasson, AP, Jan. 23, 2025.)
In a recent consumer protection lawsuit, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office accused several local companies of manipulating the probate system to “unlawfully gain control of deceased strangers’ estates.”
According to the investigation, the defendants filed more than 200 probate cases across Washington over the past five years. They successfully sold at least 90 homes, collectively valued at over $28 million.
“Probate is a solemn legal process that ensures heirs receive their share of an estate after a loved one dies,” Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said in a release. “These defendants exploited loopholes, and our consumer protection team will hold them accountable for the harms caused to multiple families.”
The lawsuit names seven Washington residents and their five companies, alleging they violated state probate, estate, and escrow laws.
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Full restitution
The Attorney General’s Office seeks full restitution for the heirs, along with a permanent injunction barring the companies from future operations.
The case is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Matt Geyman, Ben Carr, and Lauren Holzer, along with Paralegals Miranda Marti and Christopher Kiefer, who are representing the state in this matter.
Brown says the outcome of this case could have significant implications for consumer protection and the integrity of Washington State’s probate system.
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