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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I agree with Amy and Ronald’s interpretation. I have litigated similar (but unfortunately less precise) language in Idaho and have lots of relevant materials if you should
need to brief this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If even one sibling survives, the initial division into shares is at that generational level (with nieces and nephews of deceased siblings taking their parents’ shares “by
representation”). But if no siblings survive, and even one niece/nephew survives, the initial division into shares is at that generational level.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This can have surprising effects (which led to the litigation I mentioned). One deceased sibling had 1 child; another deceased sibling had 5 children. As you might imagine,
the 1 nephew wished to have 50% of the (multi-million dollar) estate, and for the 5 children of the other sibling to share the other 50% (which would be the result under a traditional “per stirpes” system, because the initial division into shares would be
at siblings’ generational level). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">But that is not what the statute requires: because all 6 nieces/nephews are of the same generational level, they share equal 1/6ths – a very different outcome than would
be had if the initial division into shares were at the siblings’ generational level.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">After that experience, I take an extra 5-10 minutes with clients who are “detail oriented” or who have very unequal numbers of grandchildren born to just two children, for
example, to confirm if their grandchildren should share equally if both children are deceased or if they should share their respective parent’s one-half share. Many clients are grateful for the sidebar and choose the former (which I implement using “per capita
at each generation” language).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Best, Josh<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Joshua D. McKarcher<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">McKarcher Law PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">537 6th Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Clarkston, WA 99403<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3345<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(509) 758-3314 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:josh@mckarcherlaw.com">josh@mckarcherlaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></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>Ronald St. Hilaire<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 11, 2020 5:40 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] RCW 11.04.015<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tracie,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Don’t forget the definition of “issue” in RCW 11.02.005(8). “Issue” is not limited to children. It includes all lineal descendants of an individual. Thus, “those issue of the parent or parents who survive the intestate” includes the
surviving nieces and nephews of the intestate whose parents (sibling of the intestate) have predeceased the intestate.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If all siblings of the intestate are surviving, they take equally. If there are surviving siblings and deceased siblings with surviving issue (presumably nieces and nephews), then the surviving issue take by representation. If all of
the siblings are deceased, but there are surviving nieces and nephews, then the surviving nieces and nephews share equally because they are the same degree of kinship. “Degree of kinship” is also defined at RCW 11.02.005(3).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#002060">Ronald F. St. Hilaire</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"color:#002060"> ·</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">Certified Elder Law Attorney
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">Liebler & St. Hilaire, P.S.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">P.O. Box 6125 · Kennewick, WA 99336</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">8131 W. Grandridge Blvd., Suite 101 · Kennewick, WA 99336</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">(509) 735-3581 office · (509) 735-3585 fax</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:rfs@licbs.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">rfs@licbs.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D"> ·
</span><a href="http://www.bentonfranklinlaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">www.bentonfranklinlaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D"> <img border="0" width="336" height="96" style="width:3.5in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D627C0.2139AB80" alt="LieblerStHilaire_Color_PS_1"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">Certification as Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties
in the practice of law. Certification is not required to practice law in the State of Washington.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"color:#141B4D">Confidentiality Notice: This email transmission is intended only for the addressee named above. It contains information that is privileged, confidential,
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">
wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Tracie Wall<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 11, 2020 5:03 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] RCW 11.04.015<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dear Colleagues:<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">Having difficulty interpreting RCW 11.04.015 and would appreciate input.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h3 style="mso-margin-top-alt:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">RCW 11.04.015 (2) (c) <span style="color:black">Descent and distribution of real and personal estate
</span>provides:<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">(c) If the intestate not be survived by issue or by either parent, then to those issue of the parent or parents<u> who survive the intestate</u>; if they
are all in the same degree of kinship to the intestate, they shall take equally, or, if of unequal degree, then those of more remote degree shall take by representation.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><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">I read the statute to mean only the
<u>surviving</u> siblings of the deceased inherit but I am confused by the degree of kinship language.
<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">How have/do others interpret the statute? Do only the surviving siblings inherit or do deceased siblings issue inherit by representation?<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">Thank you for any input!<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><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Tracie L. Wall</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> | Attorney | CPA (Inactive) |VA Accredited<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Licensed in Washington and Wisconsin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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signature_240316791"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#007C6A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#050505">(Formerly Law Office of Tracie Wall and Associates PLLC)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#2A2A2A">51 W. Dayton St., Suite 305 <b>|</b> Edmonds, WA 98020</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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