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<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA …</strong><br>
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Diane,<br>
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I think “all” can be interpreted differently based on the particular facts. Assuming there isn’t other conflicting language in the will, “all” seems pretty specific. All would mean everything.<br>
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In Estate of Little, 9 Wn. App. 2d 262, the court was construing the language of RCW 11.12.255 and RCW 11.12.260(1). It talked about the usual need to construe will provisions so that they don’t conflict with one another and in light of the intent of the testator.<br>
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Since the testator could have given “all” to a particular beneficiary elsewhere in the will, unless it conflicts with another devise, such that the testator's intent becomes unclear, it shouldn’t matter that it’s set out in a personal property letter.<br>
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If the testator said “all in bedroom 1 to beneficiary A, all in bedroom 2 to beneficiary B, and all in bedroom 3 to beneficiary C and all my recreation equipment to beneficiary D, then "all" probably might not be specific enough depending on the circumstances. If 10 years transpire from the time of writing to the time of death, the question could be if testator was giving what was in each bedroom at the time of the writing, or what was in the bedroom at the time of death? Or what if there was recreation equipment in some of the bedrooms?<br>
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So, I think that the word "all" should be construed or interpreted in light of the particular facts and circumstances. <br>
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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>
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Quoting "Diane J. Kiepe" <<a href="mailto:DJKiepe@depdslaw.com">DJKiepe@depdslaw.com</a>>:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Hello Team Listserv,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">If a decedent left a Will and referenced a personal property letter and the letter then said “all personal property” to Susie Smith and did not list any specific items – again just says “all”. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">RCW states</span> <span style="font-size:14.0pt">(c) the writing describes the items and the recipients of the property with reasonable certainty.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Would you say the “all” language complies or fails with “reasonable certainty”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Thanks so much</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style='font-family:"Script MT Bold"'>Diane J. Kiepe</span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Diane J. Kiepe</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Douglas Eden</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">717 W. Sprague Ave.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Suite 1500</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Spokane, WA 99201</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:djkiepe@depdslaw.com">djkiepe@depdslaw.com</a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">509-455-5300</p>
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<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>
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