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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Are you saying, the Will says something like, "all of my estate goes as follows: 50% to A, 20% to B, 10% to C, and 20% to Church." And, say, B has died and
the gift wasn't saved by <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.12&full=true#11.12.110">
RCW 11.12.110</a>. So now you are left with 20% of the estate not going to anyone in particular, and there is no catchall residuary clause to say, "anything left over gets divided as follows." Is that right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Regarding
<a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.12&full=true#11.12.120">RCW 11.12.120(1)</a>, I think that final clause means, if the Will does not have residuary provisions, then the decedent is
<u>intestate</u> as to the subject of that specific gift. That said, I believe the case law says there is a strong presumption that a decedent with a Will does not intend to let any portion of the estate pass by intestacy. So, depending on the exact language
of the percentage gifts, and construing the Will as a whole to try to ascertain the decedent's intent, I think that 20% could either be divided proportionately between the other three (5/8ths to A, 1/8th to C, 2/8ths to Church),
<u>or</u> could go by intestacy to the heirs at law, in proportions by right of representation – meaning the Church gets nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If the language is vague enough, I think the safest route would be to take a position on it, and petition the court for an order confirming your interpretation,
and give notice to all potentially affected parties. Or get everyone's agreement in writing before making the distribution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";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>Melinda Grout<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 31, 2016 4:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] lapsed distribution - please help<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A lapsed gift in a probate we’re running is raising this issue which is making my head hurt, so I’m hoping someone can help me see the light ;) Here’s the deal:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The other beneficiaries under the Will include not only persons, but also a church. All beneficiaries have been bequeathed a specific % of estate, and each is a different %.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">RCW 11.12.120(1) states that a lapsed gift "...falls into the residue to be distributed to the residuary clause of the will, if any, but otherwise
<u>acc to laws of descent & distribution</u>…” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Here, there is no residuary clause in the will. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">My confusion is: the laws of descent & distribution apply to persons,
<i>but</i> I do not see how to apply this statute to <i>entities</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Would I be safe to assume that each remaining beneficiary (whether person or entity) will share the lapsed gift equally? Or would they share in proportion to their respective interests
in the remaining part of the estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I really appreciate any input - I highly suspect I am just tired and not seeing the obvious here… but I’m not too proud to ask<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Melinda<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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