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<p class="MsoNormal">The case holding that recovery for personal injury is separate property is Brown v. Brown, 100 Wn.2d 729. The time of disbursement of the settlement has no bearing, presuming that the settlement occurred before the plaintiff’s death and
this is not a survival claim that is being brought post-death (By survival claim, I mean a claim that is brought or settled post-death for injury that did not cause the death). In other words, if there was pre-death settlement for pre-death injury, it makes
no difference if the community ended due to dissolution or death. The characterization of the settlement proceeds would be determined as of the date of the settlement. It would only change if this was a wrongful death or survival claim, which you have indicated
that it is not. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To the extent that the settlement compensates the community for lost wages or injury-related expenses, the settlement may partially be community property. The plaintiff’s spouse may have had their own separate claim for loss of consortium,
etc., for which the spouse was entitled to recovery. That may be dependent on whether the spouse was a party to the settlement agreement. Generally an insurer would require that an injured party’s spouse be made a party to any settlement. This may cause
apportionment issues to arise. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kristen Fisher, Attorney<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ridgway Law Group<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4640<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle, WA 98104 - 7073<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tel: 206.838.2501<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax 206.839.5702<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">email: kristen@ridgwaylawgroup.com<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Dalynne Singleton<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, August 19, 2019 11:53 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Personal Injury Settlement is Separate Property<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">What is the authority that a personal injury settlement is the separate property of a person so that if the person dies before disbursement, the monies are their separate property?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">I would acknowledge there might be an exception if some of the monies were for lost wages or for payment of a vehicle owned by the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">The person did not die from the personal injury – it was unrelated to their death. All discussion seems to be in case of a divorce not a death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:black">Is a Personal Injury Settlement Community Property?</span></b><b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;background:white">
<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#222222">If the money received as a personal injury settlement is deemed compensation for pain and suffering, it will not be considered community property. These funds are the property of the recipient
only, since it was that individual who experienced the discomfort following the accident.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">
</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#222222">In a case where a portion of the settlement is received as compensation for physical damage to property or for lost wages, this part will be considered community property, since
vehicles and income would be classified in this way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Dalynne Singleton<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D">Gourley Law Group<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D">Snohomish Escrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Snohomish, WA 98291<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com">dalynne@glgmail.com</a></span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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