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<p class="MsoNormal">How would beneficiaries to an estate file a claim against the decedent’s surviving spouse, for community property interest in real property?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A former student of mine presented me with this scenario, and I defer to the wisdom of my esteemed peers:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Husband and wife were married 30 years. Wife owned home before marriage, but Husband created community property interest by paying mortgage. Wife’s name is still only name on deed (of course). No known CP agreement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Husband executes will leaving all of his CP/SP to his kids from prior marriage, and provided for spouse outside the will, through other non-probate assets. Husband dies first, and now, his four kids believe the decedent or estate has a
community property interest in home. Since Husband’s name is not on deed (or converted via deed to CP), how could kids get the alleged community property in house?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am used to dealing with assets of dead people, so not sure what options are available to will beneficiaries, to file a claim against surviving spouse. There appears to be a community property interest in the home, but not sure how (or
if) the beneficiaries could gain access to this CP interest, to property solely in the name of the surviving spouse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any thoughts?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sherman Snow<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif;color:#FF8000">Snow Law PLLC</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif;color:#FF8000"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif;color:#212121">(206) 659-2498<br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif;color:black">3703 S. Edmunds St. #104, Seattle WA 98118</span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><a href="mailto:sherman@shermansnowlaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif;color:#FF8000">sherman@shermansnowlaw.com</span></a><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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