<div dir="ltr">Thanks very much for the detailed response. I found out that there was a decree of legal separation which I have yet to review. Thanks!<div><br></div><div>Jennifer Sohn</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 5:21 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:pugetsoundlaw@gmail.com" target="_blank">pugetsoundlaw@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">I recently did a probate recently where a Decree of Legal Separation had<br>
been entered. Not just a couple that had informally separated and were<br>
living apart.<br>
<br>
The Decree of Legal Separation had not been converted to a Decree of<br>
Dissolution (RCW 26.09.150). If you have a decree, be sure to read the<br>
language to see if it contains an order that the marriage is "dissolved,<br>
invalidated, or terminated" to see if will provisions (if you have a will)<br>
were revoked under RCW11.12.051. In my case, the Decree of Legal Separation<br>
did not contain language ending the marriage, the parties merely had their<br>
assets and debts separated and there was no longer any community property.<br>
The parties remained as "spouses" and legally married, though living apart.<br>
<br>
With an intestate probate, I would think that the surviving spouse of a<br>
separated couple would be treated the same as though married and never<br>
separated. If there hasn't been a decree entered and they have just lived<br>
separately, then you might have some community property. If a decree was<br>
entered, then there might not be any community property, but read it to make<br>
sure. The spouse would receive their intestate share: all the community<br>
property, if any, and either 1/2 or 3/4 of the decedent's separate property,<br>
depending on whether there were issue surviving. The separated surviving<br>
spouse should also be entitled to death benefits as surviving spouse, and<br>
would enjoy a position of priority for issuance of Letters of<br>
Administration.<br>
<br>
My surviving spouse inherited everything and served as PR. There were no<br>
kids to add any complications. We had a Will that was dated during the<br>
marriage pre-decree and a Codicil that was executed post-decree that<br>
confirmed the spouse's appointment and her share as heir, so that made<br>
things very straight-forward.<br>
<br>
Tara M. Roberts<br>
Puget Sound Law pllc<br>
152 3rd Ave S Ste 107<br>
Edmonds, WA 98020<br>
Phone 206-285-3361<br>
<a href="mailto:roberts@pugetsoundlaw.com">roberts@pugetsoundlaw.com</a><br>
<br>
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From: <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.<wbr>com</a><br>
[mailto:<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.<wbr>wsbarppt.com</a>] On Behalf Of G. Geoffrey Gibbs<br>
Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2016 3:55 PM<br>
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Legal separation in probate<br>
<br>
If the dissolution was initiated but not completed prior to the death of one<br>
spouse, as a legal action it is a nullity and the surviving spouse is just<br>
that for probate purposes. I have case law somewhere if you need it.<br>
<br>
G. Geoffrey Gibbs | Anderson Hunter Law Firm<br>
2707 Colby Avenue | Everett, WA 98201<br>
Phone: <a href="tel:%28425%29%20252-5161" value="+14252525161">(425) 252-5161</a> | Fax: <a href="tel:%28425%29%20258-3345" value="+14252583345">(425) 258-3345</a> <a href="mailto:ggibbs@andersonhunterlaw.com">ggibbs@andersonhunterlaw.com</a> /<br>
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From: <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.<wbr>com</a><br>
[mailto:<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.<wbr>wsbarppt.com</a>] On Behalf Of Jennifer Sohn<br>
Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2016 3:42 PM<br>
To: <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
Subject: [WSBAPT] Legal separation in probate<br>
<br>
Hi, does legal separation mean anything in probate? There was no dissolution<br>
but the clients were legally separated. Does the surviving spouse still have<br>
authority as a survivng spouse?<br>
<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
Jennifer Sohn<br>
<a href="tel:206.617.7874" value="+12066177874">206.617.7874</a><br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Best regards,<u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif"> <u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Jennifer Y. Sohn<u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Attorney at Law<u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">(Licensed in CA and WA)<u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Sohn Law PLLC<u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 1850</span><u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px"><font face="georgia, serif"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">Bellevue, WA 98004</span><u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Tel: <a rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;text-decoration:underline;color:rgb(25,106,212);outline:none;background:transparent">425.522.3861</a><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Fax: <a rel="nofollow" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;text-decoration:underline;color:rgb(25,106,212);outline:none;background:transparent">425.732.9748</a> <u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Email: <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:jennifer@sohn-law.com" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(25,106,212);outline:none;background:transparent" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">jennifer@sohn-law.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sohn-law.com/" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(25,106,212);outline:none;background:transparent" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">http://www.sohn-law.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif"> <u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Confidential. 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