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<p class="MsoNormal">Here are some questions to consider:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Did the decedent have a Will? Did it leave the property to the spouse? If so, then no need to analyze community vs separate property, issues of minor child, etc.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Were they in the process of divorce? See
<i><a href="https://advance.lexis.com/documentpage/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=32c9c72e-8fd5-4343-aab0-cb27266c85f8&config=00JABhZjY0ZmI3Ny04MzkwLTRlMzAtYjllNC03MzdlOTgyYTY2MDEKAFBvZENhdGFsb2eA00v3ycmKG7ve38pfdpvF&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fcases%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A5YWW-MVM1-FGRY-B278-00008-00&pdcontentcomponentid=506039&pdteaserkey=sr0&pditab=allpods&ecomp=L5w_kkk&earg=sr0&prid=d5f43801-3411-4ab3-9b5f-ec87216e4c3f">Estate
of Petelle</a></i>, 195 Wn.2d 661, 462 P.3d 848 (2020). The court held that a signed property settlement contract was valid despite the Decree of Dissolution not being entered.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Was it all community property? If there was money in a separate account that was pre-marriage or inherited, then it should be treated differently.<o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal">Practically speaking, I think this is going to depend on whether the 401(k) Administrator will accept the Small Estate Affidavit. I have tried several times, and all of the major brokerages refuse to accept the Small Estate Affidavit. So
you are probably going to need to probate to access those accounts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nick<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#2B6AA4">Nicholas Pleasants<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2B6AA4">Owner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2B6AA4"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.pleasantslaw.com/"><b><span style="color:#2B6AA4;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="144" height="44" style="width:1.5in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D7411C.3E712090" alt="(Logo) Pleasants Law Firm"></span></b></a><b><span style="color:#2B6AA4"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Pleasants Law Firm, P.S.<br>
2300 130th Ave NE, Suite A-101<br>
Bellevue, WA 98005-1755<br>
(425) 615-7070 tel/fax<br>
</span><span style="color:#2E75B6"><a href="mailto:nick@pleasantslaw.com"><span style="color:#2E75B6">nick@pleasantslaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2E75B6"><a href="http://www.pleasantslaw.com"><span style="color:#2E75B6">www.pleasantslaw.com</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">From: </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> on behalf of "msafren@jennylinglaw.com" <msafren@jennylinglaw.com><br>
<b>Reply-To: </b>WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Date: </b>Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 5:35 PM<br>
<b>To: </b>'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject: </b>[WSBAPT] Small Estate w/ Minor and 401(k)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was recently approached by a potential client whose spouse has recently passed away. The two were separated but not legally divorced and have a minor child together. The decedent had about $100,000 in assets consisting of bank accounts
and 401(K), and a vehicle. There was no beneficiary designation on any of the accounts and no real property was owned.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Given the relatively small size of the estate and the fact that the estate property is presumed to be community property, I was thinking to advise them to use the Small Estates process, however I had two concerns 1) attempting to access
the funds in a 401(K) without letters testamentary even though the RCW 11.62.010 allows such property to be claimed and 2) to the extent that any property is not community property, the minor child’s ability to receive the notice and/or agree to allow the
“successor” surviving spouse to claim on their behalf.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If anyone has guided or helped a client through such a process, I’d be certainly grateful for your insights and thoughts.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you in advance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Warmest regards,<br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:purple">Michael S. Safren, Esq.</span></b>
<b><br>
</b><i>Attorney at Law</i> <br>
<br>
14900 Interurban Ave. S., Ste. 280 | Seattle, WA 98168 <br>
11900 NE 1st St., Bldg. G - Ste. 300 | Bellevue, WA 98005 <br>
P: (206) 859-5098 | E: <a href="mailto:msafren@jennylinglaw.com" target="_blank">
msafren@jennylinglaw.com</a> <br>
<u><a href="http://www.jennylinglaw.com/" target="_blank">www.jennylinglaw.com</a></u> |
<u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jennylinglaw/" target="_blank">facebook.com/jennylinglaw/</a></u>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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