[WSBAPT] Transfer of Book Rights?

[Jennifer L White]

Hello Listserv Colleagues,
I have a probate asset situation for which I would appreciate your input. I am looking for information on the correct way for an estate to transfer decedent’s rights in a book he wrote. The decedent co-wrote a book on an esoteric niche topic years ago. There were a certain number of books printed. I do not know if they self-published, but there is no record of a publishing contract. At this point, all of the books are sold or otherwise disposed of. The other co-author is also now deceased, but I’m not worried about dealing with that aspect, only transferring our estate’s interest. There is one beneficiary in the family that shares the same enthusiasm for the subject matter as the decedent. He has expressed interest that at some future date, he may want to write an update to his father’s work. There is no definitive plan that it will actually happen, just that he may want to do it. I want to correctly transfer this “interest” to him so that years from now if he decides to go forward, he has whatever documentation is needed to vest him with the interest.

Can I prepare a simple assignment describing the interest as best as we can and then distributing it to him with the signature of the PR? OR, is there some more official/formal way of handling it? Bonus, if you have a form for accomplishing this task that you are willing to share, I will be forever grateful 😊

Thanks in Advance,

Jennifer L. White, Esq.
[cid:image001.jpg at 01D8FA99.746A8D70]

jen at appletreelaw.com<mailto:jen at appletreelaw.com>
PO Box 11037
Yakima, WA 98909
509.225.9813

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