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.”…