[WSBAPT] FW: Removing deceased ex-spouse from property title

Wed Dec 4 17:49:52 PST 2019

Since both daughters wish to have their mother be the sole owner of the
property (as they always thought she was after the divorce) they are very
cooperative.  Sounds like the quickie probate & PR deed is the easiest way.

Thanks for your analysis!  I'm sure this will come up again.

Sara

Sara D. Longley, J.D., LL.M.

LONGLEY LAW PLLC 

1734 NW Market Street

Seattle, WA 98107

 <tel:%28206%29%20434-5644> (206) 434-5644

 <mailto:Sara at longley-law.pro> Sara at Longley-law.pro

 <http://www.longley-law.pro/> www.longley-law.pro

Pronouns: she, her, hers

ATTENTION CLIENTS: I am in the process of merging my law firm into Ivy Law
Group, PLLC.  Over the next few months my web site will redirect to
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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com
[mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Mike Winslow
Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2019 4:58 PM
To: 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] FW: Removing deceased ex-spouse from property title

Off the top, I see two options: 

1) Probate ExH estate and obtain deed from estate, assuming the named PR
will cooperate.

2 Quiet title under RCW 7.28.

Sue Heirs at Law of ExH.

Complaint should allege your client has paid the taxes for past 7 years and
allege Adverse possession under 7.28.070 (if applicable) and 

Allege the dissolution decree as being intended to give her title.

Obtain a litigation guarantee from title company;

Ask both daughters if they will accept service or serve them;

See if daughters will stipulate to Order Quieting Title; if not default them
out after service;

Enter default and order quieting title.

A simple easy open/easy close probate with a deed from PR is probably less
money in long run.

Call if you want to discuss QT. The above outline is skeletal in nature.

Michael A. Winslow

1204 Cleveland Ave.

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Ph. 360-336-3321

Em. Mike at winslegal.com <mailto:Mike at winslegal.com> 

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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com
<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
[mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Sara D. Longley
Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2019 2:57 PM
To: 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv'
Subject: [WSBAPT] FW: Removing deceased ex-spouse from property title

All the talk today about clearing title for married surviving spouses got me
hoping I might get a few people's thoughts on the best way to clear title
for a surviving ex-spouse.  Any ideas?  

I have a client wishing to remove her deceased ex-spouse from title on a
piece of undeveloped real estate.  The divorce paperwork, drafted in the
early 1980s, has an error where it refers to the property ambiguously in the
list of assets to be given to the wife, and the exhibit purportedly
containing the legal description describes a different property (they had at
least three parcels of real estate to divide up).  The parties both behaved
as though this particular piece of property belonged to the wife after the
divorce, and it was a surprise to recently learn his name is still on title.

The ex-spouse died about 10 years ago, leaving a pour-over will naming one
of their daughters as PR.  He did set up a RLT about a year before passing
away, and the only beneficiaries are his daughters and my client (the
ex-wife(!)).  Apparently his estate was actually quite small and was never
probated.

Question: what is the simplest way to quiet title in the surviving ex-wife?
It would not be easy to prove she was intended to receive it in the divorce
after all this time, except by the parties' actions (she has paid the
property tax) which seems to me not enough.  Husband passed, so he cannot
sign a QCD for it.  Can the PR daughter sign a QCD on behalf of the ex's
estate?  Or can/should both daughters sign over their inherited interest in
to her?  Or, worst case, must we do a probate to pass his interest to the
heirs?

Thanks in advance,

Sara Longley

Sara D. Longley, J.D., LL.M.

LONGLEY LAW PLLC 

1734 NW Market Street

Seattle, WA 98107

 <tel:%28206%29%20434-5644> (206) 434-5644

 <mailto:Sara at longley-law.pro> Sara at Longley-law.pro

 <http://www.longley-law.pro/> www.longley-law.pro

ATTENTION CLIENTS: I am in the process of merging my law firm into Ivy Law
Group, PLLC.  Over the next few months my web site will redirect to
www.ivylawgroup.com <http://www.ivylawgroup.com>  and I will begin emailing
from Sara at ivylawgroup.com <mailto:Sara at ivylawgroup.com> .  My existing email
address and telephone number will continue to function and my physical
office location will not change.  I look forward to serving you in the
coming years.

This email is intended only for the individual to whom it is addressed and
may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and/or exempt from
disclosure.  If you have received this message in error, please inform the
sender by telephone or reply email and delete this message and all
attachments.  Thank you.

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