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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">A long shot, but there is a doctrine of equitable adoption. No reported cases in WA recognizing the doctrine, but I think the trial court applied equitable adoption in the Billy Tipton case out of Spokane (check
google). There are reported cases in Alaska and other states. And re: the mother, Estate of Fleming 98 Wn.App. 915 disinherited a mother whose parental rights were terminated even tho the child wasn’t adopted by another family. But abandonment wouldn’t
be enough, I don’t think.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Professor Karen E. Boxx</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">University of Washington School of Law</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Box 353020</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle, WA 98195-3020</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">206.616.3856</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Scott Kee<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 18, 2015 11:57 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Quasi Adoption for inheritance purposes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have a client who is a stepchild of the deceased. Deceased left no Will, and inherited all of what he owned at the time of death from my client’s mother, decedent’s wife(who died 6 months prior). At the time of death decedent was not
married, had no kids and no siblings. Decedent was abandoned by his natural parents at an early age and raised by another family. Prior to his death, decedent claimed he was adopted, however it appears that was not case. Our investigation reveals no evidence
of an adoption. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the above is correct, the estate would normally escheat. However, client filed a probate, seeking to inherit under RCW 11.04.095(inheritance from stepparent to avoid escheat). An affidavit from decedent’s birth mother was filed, claiming
she is the only heir. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Question---Is anyone aware of authority supporting an argument from my client that there was a “quasi” adoption, or that the natural mother lost inheritance rights by abandoning decedent at an early age and not being involved in decedent’s
life for 50+ years. I feel like the answer is “no” and equity really doesn’t matter in a case like this . . . .
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:blue">C. Scott Kee</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:blue">Rodgers Kee & Card, P.S.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:blue">324 West Bay Drive, Suite 201</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:blue">Olympia, WA 98502</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:blue">(360) 352-8311</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:blue"><a href="mailto:scottkee@buddbaylaw.com" target="_blank">scottkee@buddbaylaw.com</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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