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Though not quite on point, the Georgia Supreme Court last week
applied the equitable doctine of "virtual adoption" in favor of an
unadopted heir.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/2015/s14a1314.html">http://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/2015/s14a1314.html</a><br>
<br>
Doug Schafer, in Tacoma.<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/18/2015 12:19 PM, Karen E. Boxx
wrote:<br>
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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>
<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>
<div>
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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"">
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Scott Kee<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 18, 2015 11:57 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Quasi Adoption for inheritance
purposes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<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
moz-do-not-send="true"
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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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