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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>If the Community Property Agreement was specifically revoked by the terms in the decree of legal separation then the decree should govern the characterization of the property as the deceased spouse’s separate property asset. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Under intestacy a separate property asset is distributed 50% to the surviving spouse and 50% to the heirs of the decedent other than the surviving spouse. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If the Decree of Legal Separation ignored the existence of the recorded CPA, then I think you get the opposite result. This is why CPAs are known as “the atom bomb of estate planning.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br>There may be another issue if the Decree specifically revoked the CPA, but was not recorded because a recorded CPA has to be revoked by recording the revocation, I believe.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jane Bitz.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Jane G Bitz<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Of Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>12209 E Mission, Suite 5<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Spokane Valley WA 99206-4824<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>(509) 927-9700; FAX (509) 777-1800<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><a href="mailto:jane@jbitzlaw.com"><span style='color:blue'>jbitz@whc-attorneys.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><o:p> </o:p></a></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_MailEndCompose'></span><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mike Winslow<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 3, 2017 3:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Effect of Decree of Separation on Intestate Succession<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Does your conclusion arise based on the CPA or based on the laws of intestacy? If intestacy, then I think if they are still married there is merit to the argument that they are still <i>husband and wife</i>, with the laws of intestacy applying. No research, just my logic on the issues. I don’t recall the probate code making an exception for decree of separation in the application of the intestacy rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Michael A. Winslow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>1204 Cleveland Ave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Mount Vernon, WA 98273<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Ph. 360-336-3321<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Em. <a href="mailto:Mike@winslegal.com">Mike@winslegal.com</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'>This message is from an attorney, so it’s confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, it’s too late to stop reading this message, but you may not use it for any improper purpose. Huge Disclaimer available upon request.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><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'> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Bickel, Dwight<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 03, 2017 3:17 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Effect of Decree of Separation on Intestate Succession<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is unsettling to discover that you may have been wrong about something for decades. Hopefully, one of you can respond confirming the correct answer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Community property, clearly created by recorded CPA.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Then a Decree of Legal Separation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The relevant real property is vested to one spouse as separate, with only a lien given to the other spouse for specific payment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vested spouse dies, intestate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My research today leads me to conclude that the non-vested spouse is a surviving spouse entitled to inherit the property. That is not the answer I expected. The other heirs of vested spouse aren’t going to like that. Can anyone confirm that is correct, or refer me to authority.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><hr size=1 width="100%" noshade style='color:black' align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>NOTICE: The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential and may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, you are hereby notified to: (i) delete the message and all copies; (ii) do not disclose, distribute or use the message in any manner; and (iii) notify the sender immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>