<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<title></title>
</head>
<body style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14px">
<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA</strong><br>
<strong>________________________________________________________________________</strong><br>
<br>
. April 13, 2020<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
You are correct that a divorce decree terminates or abates by operation of law upon death. So, temporary orders terminate as well.<br>
<br>
The divorce court loses jurisdiction to do anything but enter an order of dismissal. It’s as if nothing ever happened.<br>
<br>
<br>
There is a line of cases but I think Marriage of Pratt (1983) and the 2017 unpublished case Marriage of Dillon explain it pretty simply. The divorce court only has jurisdiction to correct administrative errors, etc. Based on the info in your post, Opposing party has no basis on which to object to a dismissal or to seek any relief from the divorce court. <br>
<br>
So, the good news for OP is that if there was life insurance naming OP as beneficiary, or bank accounts with right of survivorship, and if there things hadn’t been changed, then OP is still beneficiary. It’s as if no divorce had ever been filed.<br>
<br>
I assume your client had changed his will to name someone other than OP as PR? Does your client's will leave his/her share of community property and separate property to someone else? Many people never get around to changing their will after they file for divorce, even when I ask "do you need to prepare new will? " most parties say " yeah, I'll do that later, I don't expect to die right away."<br>
<br>
I think you should just tell OP that you will be seeking a dismissal because divorce abates upon death and that OP should seek a consultation to see what their rights may or may not be now that client has died, and to get advice on how to proceed.<br>
<br>
andrekita<br>
Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva<br>
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2000<br>
Seattle, Washington 98101<br>
206-224-8288<br>
www.seattle-silvalaw.com<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Quoting Josh Grant <<a href="mailto:jgrant@accima.com">jgrant@accima.com</a>>:</p>
<blockquote style="border-left:2px solid blue;margin-left:2px;padding-left:12px;" type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<div><font size="4">I would just advise OP to get an opinion from an independent attorney, who would say “you apply to be PR”. Remember confidences continue even after a client dies in some circumstances.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<div><strong><span style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: #004080">Joshua F. Grant</span></strong><br>
<span style="COLOR: black"><img alt="advocates" border="0" height="43" src="cid:EZSBT9Gd1v0K6zV6MZluWDw@biz251.inmotionhosting.com" style="BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px" title="advocates" width="207"></span><br>
<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #004080">P. O. Box 619<br>
Wilbur, WA 99185<br>
509 647 5578</span>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<div style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<div> </div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<div style="font-color: black"><b>From:</b> <a title="michael@westseattleattorney.com">michael@westseattleattorney.com</a></div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 13, 2020 2:20 PM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv</a></div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Process from dismiss Disso due to death and openingProbate</div>
</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000">Hi - yes, but how? While some said file a Motion (I can't as I do not have a client) but another said file death cert under seal and copy IC Judge - court should administratively dismiss case. I believe your right that once Probated is open, spouse could ask for a family allowance</span></div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"> </span></div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><img alt="" border="0" id="sigimg0" src="cid:hNYHXc-BCaaxvNGwL9GQc3q@biz251.inmotionhosting.com" title="signature image"></span></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<blockquote id="replyBlockquote" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; COLOR: black; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-LEFT: 8px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid" webmail="1">
<div id="wmQuoteWrapper"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000">-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Process from dismiss Disso due to death and<br>
opening Probate<br>
From: "Josh Grant" <<a>jgrant@accima.com</a>><br>
Date: Mon, April 13, 2020 12:55 pm<br>
To: "WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv" <<a>wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>></span><br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><font size="4">I always understood that death ends all divorce cases, OP would get family allowance in estate case?</font></span></div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"> </span></div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><strong><span style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: #004080">Joshua F. Grant</span></strong><br>
<span style="COLOR: black"><img alt="advocates" border="0" height="43" src="cid:c-9_jTz4QwoOfyJYAmlXe-v@biz251.inmotionhosting.com" style="BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px" title="advocates" wbeuser="michael@westseattleattorney.com" width="207"></span><br>
<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #004080">P. O. Box 619<br>
Wilbur, WA 99185<br>
509 647 5578</span></span>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<div style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"> </span></div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<div style="font-color: black"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><b>From:</b> <a target="_blank" title="michael@westseattleattorney.com">michael@westseattleattorney.com</a></span></div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 13, 2020 11:31 AM</span></div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><b>To:</b> <a target="_blank" title="wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">WSBA Probate & Trust Listserve</a></span></div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Process from dismiss Disso due to death and opening Probate</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"> </span></div>
</div>
<div style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span>Client's death leaves me w/o a client in a divorce case. OP is pro se and will need a family allowance and will not just allow dismissal to take place as it will dismiss Temp Order re maintenance. Do I open probate first and have PR sign Order of Dismissal for Dissolution?</span></span></span>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span>Thanks</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span>Mike</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"> </span></span></div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000"><img alt="" border="0" id="sigimg0" mce_src="cid:sigimg0@82e42ca40496be1adfc3fb1dfd8249eb" src="cid:s6OlRqUg0i65cSyHBg2sMQF@biz251.inmotionhosting.com" title="signature image" wbeuser="michael@westseattleattorney.com"></span></span></div>
<div>
<hr>
<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000">***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
WSBAPT mailing list<br>
<a>WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<hr>
<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; COLOR: #000000">***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
WSBAPT mailing list<br>
<a>WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a></span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<hr>
***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
WSBAPT mailing list<br>
WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><br>
<br></p>
<div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11px;">andrekita<br>
Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva<br>
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2000<br>
Seattle, Washington 98101<br>
206-224-8288<br>
www.seattle-silvalaw.com</span></span></div>
</body>
</html>