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<p class="MsoNormal">Diane—I thought your post was accurate. There are some funky provisions on term life, where you have to get really nitpicky about how long the term is and what payments apply to the term, and characterize based on the character of the funds
used to make those payments. So if the policy has a one-year term and payments are monthly, then you have to characterize all the monthly payments applicable to that term, in order to determine character of ownership.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For Dewey's situation, I think one issue will be whether the surviving spouse consented/ratified/acquiesced in designation of decedent's estate as the beneficiary. If the surviving spouse did not consent, there can be an argument about
whether 50% of the proceeds should just go to the spouse directly, versus how much go to the estate (and then, possibly, to the spouse).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think that's true, anyway. I don't remember the rules very clearly either; I have to re-learn them every time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b>All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone; please call the Seattle office. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled
on a case-by-case basis; please call the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MAIL AND DELIVERIES can be received at the Seattle office. For any other needed arrangements, please call the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Diane J. Kiepe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 13, 2020 4:07 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Question regarding intestate distribution<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Good catch Eric,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><br>
I think the rules I stated are for the policy itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold"">Diane J. Kiepe<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Diane J. Kiepe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Douglas Eden<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">717 W. Sprague Ave.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Suite 1500<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spokane, WA 99201<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:djkiepe@depdslaw.com">djkiepe@depdslaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">509-455-5300<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<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>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 13, 2020 3:58 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> Re: [WSBAPT] Question regarding intestate distribution<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Life insurance can be tricky to characterize. The rules are described in the WSBA Community Property Deskbook (4th ed. 2014); see Chapter 3.2(4). I highly recommend it. Ownership of the life insurance policy, versus characterization of
proceeds, can be an issue. Also federal law can preempt state law if the policy was an employment benefit or was a military service benefit. If you don't want to buy the deskbook you can get online access it to it fairly cheaply via Casemaker Libra:
<a href="https://washington.casemakerlibra.com/home/index.aspx?st=WA">https://washington.casemakerlibra.com/home/index.aspx?st=WA</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b>All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone; please call the Seattle office. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled
on a case-by-case basis; please call the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MAIL AND DELIVERIES can be received at the Seattle office. For any other needed arrangements, please call the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<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>Dewey Weddle<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 13, 2020 3:25 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] Question regarding intestate distribution<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Esteemed colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Facts: Mother dies intestate. She is married at the time of her death and she leaves behind two minor children. She left a life insurance policy that named
her estate as the beneficiary. The rules of intestate succession indicate that spouse is entitled to receive all the community property and one-half of her separate property and the children are to receive the other half of her separate property <span style="background:white">RCW
11.04.015 (1)(a)(b)</span>. Question: Because the life insurance policy named the estate as the beneficiary, how does one characterize the proceeds? Separate or community? I am hoping that some of you have encountered this problem and can point me in the
right direction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Best regards,
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0C64C0">Dewey W. Weddle</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Law Office of Dewey W. Weddle, PLLC</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">909 7th Street</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Anacortes, WA 98221</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Telephone: 360-293-3600
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Fax 360-293-3700
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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