<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>If I understand the question,<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'>I do not believe a parent can transfer “custody” to another person if the other parent of the child is living, and not deemed an unfit parent. A person can identify another person (other than their former spouse) to serve as guardian/trustee for assets that the deceased parent plans to leave for their child. <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'>If the question is whether or not a testamentary document can in essence designate another person that will assume the deceased parent’s custody then the answer is no. However, in the case of a death, the grandparents can petition for visitation. (RCW 26.09.240)<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='color:#1F497D'>Sincerely,<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'>G. (Gus) Benjamin Lindsey III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><img width=120 height=99 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.png@01D28902.F5D20F50"><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'>The Law Office of G. Benjamin Lindsey III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>2012 Grade Road, Suite 202<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Lake Stevens, WA 98258<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'>Phone: (425) 263-9585<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'>website: <a href="http://www.gbl3law.com/"><span style='color:blue'>www.gbl3law.com</span></a><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'>Employment/Labor Law Construction Law Civil Litigation Estate Planning Probate <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Business Law<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'>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This e-mail message contains information belonging to The Law Office of G. Benjamin Lindsey III, which may be privileged, confidential and/or protected from disclosure. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you think that you have received this message in error, please contact the sender. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited<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='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><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>Sharon Rutberg<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 17, 2017 9:18 AM<br><b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] joint custody/guardianship nomination in will<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning, everyone –<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wondering if anyone has worked on estate planning with a divorced client with minor children. My client has joint custody, children live with her 50% of the time. Can she nominate a guardian to take over her 50% of custody if she should die – and expect a court to accept her nomination -- rather than having children’s father take 100%?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Grateful, as always.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sharon<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Law Office of Sharon C. Rutberg, PS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>1734 NW Market St.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Seattle, WA 98107<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Website: <a href="http://www.sharonrutberglaw.com/">www.sharonrutberglaw.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>206-409-2604<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="mailto:email@sharonrutberglaw.com">email@sharonrutberglaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Washington State Bar #47055<br>D.C. Bar #420576<br><br>NOTICES<br>The contents of this message and any attachments may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine, and/or other applicable protections. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify the sender and promptly delete the message. Thank you for your assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:16.2pt;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>IRS Circular 230 Disclaimer: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that to the extent this communication contains advice relating to a Federal tax issue, it is not intended or written to be used, and it may not be used, for (i) the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed on you or any other person or entity under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting or marketing to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>