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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">We litigated the issue years ago, in Skagit County. At that time, there was no case law in Washington. But there was settled law in other jurisdictions and, as I recall, the restatement was
helpful. Basically, unless the decedent specified otherwise, because the life tenant is entitled to any income the asset might generate, s/he is also responsible for the cost of carrying the debt (i.e., the interest portion of the mortgage), and because the
remainder beneficiaries receive the full asset at the end of the life estate, they are responsible for protecting the principal portion of the debt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">The judge who heard our argument told us we should mediate the dispute. We did, and that was the agreement that was reached.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Kate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Cataneo BT",serif;color:blue">Kate Szurek</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">, J.D., LL.M.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:kate@skagitlaw.com"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">kate@skagitlaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="193" height="51" style="width:2.0069in;height:.5347in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D34749.5A3DF170" alt="SkagitLaw_Signature (2)">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">Skagit Law Group, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">P.O. Box 336 / 227 Freeway Drive, Suite B<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">Mount Vernon, WA 98273<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">360.336.1000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">360.336.6690 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.skagitlaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">http://www.skagitlaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Scott Kee<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 17, 2017 12:15 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Life Estate Question<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In his will, the decedent left property to his kids, but reserved a life estate his girlfriend. The specific language is . . .”Girlfriend is entitled to reside in the real property located at . . . .
<b>provided she pays the taxes and insurance on the property. </b>The residue of the estate goes to kids.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is an underlying mortgage on the property and the decedent made no provision for, and did not mention, the mortgage. In addition, maintenance has become an issue.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Girlfriend is taking the position that she is not responsible for the mortgage or maintenance as the decedent did not expressly indicate as much(see In Re Estate of Campbell) and she is not the ultimate beneficiary.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kids are taking the position that Girlfriend is the devisee(see RCW 11.12.70) and therefore she is responsible for mortgage and maintenance.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thoughts? <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:blue"><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 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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