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<p class="MsoNormal">I posted this a couple months ago:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Below is the text of a letter I send in these situations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">“I am writing to you on behalf of SURVIVING SPOUSE regarding the administration of the estate of her deceased husband, DECEASED SPOUSE. I appreciate
that Washington State handles community property estates differently than other states and you or Schwab may not be entirely familiar with the effect of Community Property Agreements at the death of one spouse. Hopefully this letter will address your concerns.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Community Property agreements are binding contracts between spouses, authorized by state law, (Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 26.16.120). I
forward a copy of this statute for your reference. These agreements have the effect of vesting ALL assets owned by either spouse, as separate property, or as community property, in the surviving spouse. When such agreements are in effect at death, there is
no need for Court administration of the property which is the subject of such agreement.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">THESE SPOUSES had such an agreement in effect when he died. Paragraph 2 of the agreement, previously provided, references the property covered. Therefor,
no administration of DECEASED SPOUSE’S estate is necessary or appropriate now that the agreement has been “certified in the same manner as deeds to real estate are required to be” as required by the statute. Only the Superior Court may set aside these agreements;
it has not. If an affidavit confirming the Agreement was in effect at death and creditors are paid or provided for would be helpful, SURVIVING SPOUSE can provide such an affidavit upon request.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">In accordance with the agreement and state law, all property owned by DECEASED SPOUSE at the time of his death is now vested in his wife. If Charles
Schwab cannot follow this provision of Washington law without further Court order, I will seek such an order, and, as authorized by RCW 11.96A.150 (also forwarded herewith) may seek an award of costs, including attorney fees, to SURVIVING SPOUSE. I hope with
this information, this account can be transferred without further delay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It has worked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good Luck,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heather<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Vladimir Script";color:#1F497D">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="189" height="105" style="width:1.9701in;height:1.097in" id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D5F932.257B3450"></span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">3909 California Avenue SW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">Seattle, WA 98116-3705
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">(206)938-5500
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:heatherd@westseattlelaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">heatherd@westseattlelaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.westseattlelaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">www.westseattlelaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002E8A">Click here to connect with de Vrieze | Carney on Facebook:
</span></b><b><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVriezeCarney"><b><span style="text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="72" height="21" style="width:.7462in;height:.2238in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.png@01D5F932.257B3450" alt="FB Logo"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#A6A6A6"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#A6A6A6">CONFIDENTIAL & PRIVILEGED. This e-mail message may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete all copies of this e-mail message and any attachment.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:blue"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jamia Burns<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 13, 2020 11:45 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Schwab Refuses to Recognize Community Property Agreement<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My client's husband died. They had a joint account at Schwab, but apparently no right of survivorship on the types of accounts and no named beneficiaries. They have a signed community property agreement. Charles Schwab will not recognize
it and is requiring Probate. Any advice greatly appreciated!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Respectfully, <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jamia S. Burns<br>
Attorney at Law<br>
(360) 739-6379<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">Office: 1200 Dupont St., Suite 1-D<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">Bellingham, WA 98225 (By Appointment Only)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mail: P.O. Box 29453<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Bellingham, WA 98228<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:jamia@jamiaburnslaw.com" target="_blank">jamia@jamiaburnslaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.jamiaburnslaw.com" target="_blank">www.jamiaburnslaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">NOTICE: This e-mail may contain confidential or privileged material and is intended for use solely by the above-referenced recipient. Any review,
copying, printing, disclosure, distribution, or other use by any other person or entity is strictly prohibited. If you are not the named recipient, or believe you have received this e-mail in error, please reply to the sender and delete the copy you received.
Thank you.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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