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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Research from a prior matter (originally found in the Family Law Deskbook, I believe):<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>State v. Denton, 983 P.2d 693, 97 Wash.App. 267... My notes say ‘relates to unlicensed marriage…take-away is that licensing is merely regulatory and there is a public policy value in favoring marriage’.<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>Thank you, Adrienne<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'>Adrienne Keith Wills, Attorney/Mediator</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Wills Law Firm Inc. | </span><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.WillsLawFirm.com">www.WillsLawFirm.com</a></span><span style='font-variant:small-caps'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>Helping family law and estate planning clients create their legacy </span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>1700 Seventh Ave, Suite 2100 | Seattle, WA 98101</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Tel. (206) 523-3047 | Fax (206) 219-6714 </span><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> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> <b>On Behalf Of </b>G. Geoffrey Gibbs<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 10, 2021 8:19 AM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Here's a New One<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The lack of a marriage license will not defeat the fact they were married. There is case law on that point (but not at my fingertips). So they were married on August 28<sup>th</sup> under the facts you provided. That does not solve all the issues but might get you started.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:6.3pt'><td width=114 rowspan=5 valign=top style='width:85.85pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><img border=0 width=100 height=102 style='width:1.0377in;height:1.066in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image001.png@01D7D61C.390360B0" alt="A black sign with white text
Description automatically generated"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=509 valign=top style='width:382.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial Nova",sans-serif;font-variant:small-caps;color:#15375F'>G. Geoffrey Gibbs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:.25in'><td width=509 valign=top style='width:382.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.25in'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#15375F'>Anderson Hunter Law Firm<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:13.5pt'><td width=509 valign=top style='width:382.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:13.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#4472C4'>2707 Colby Avenue #1001 | Everett, WA 98201<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:9.0pt'><td width=509 valign=top style='width:382.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:9.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#4472C4'>P. (425) 252-5161 | F. (425) 258-3345 | <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#4472C4'>ggibbs</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AndersonHunterLaw/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#4472C4;text-decoration:none'>@andersonhunterlaw</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#4472C4'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:.4in'><td width=509 valign=top style='width:382.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.4in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.andersonhunterlaw.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#D0AF68;text-decoration:none'>www.andersonhunterlaw.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:81.0pt'><td width=624 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:467.85pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:81.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222;background:white'>This email message may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized use is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. </span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>To comply with IRS regulations, we advise you that any discussion of Federal tax issues in this e-mail is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you, (a) to avoid any penalties imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or (b) to promote, market or recommend to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. </span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222A35'>We do not accept service of any kind by e-mail unless expressly authorized in writing by the attorney of record. E-mail communications are not intended to create contracts or CR 2A agreements. All such agreements must be signed by the attorney of record.</span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> Thank you.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><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>Amy Goertz<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 9, 2021 4:37 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] Here's a New One<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Good afternoon,</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>I have an interesting situation on my hands.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>A potential client (PC) called today with the following challenging scenario:</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>PC (30 years old) was in a relationship since 2018 with a man (28 years old) who had been paralyzed in an accident in 2015. He received a settlement from the accident, which was in a bank account on which his stepmother was a co-signer to help him pay bills.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>During their relationship, PC was his primary caretaker, and they purchased vehicles and a house. All titled in his name and likely using his settlement monies.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>They planned to be married on his grandparents’ anniversary - August 28, 2021. They had a ceremony with a licensed officiant but they did not realize they were supposed to get a marriage license ahead of time so no official paperwork was filed. They decided to go to Idaho on October 11 (her birthday) to get hitched for real, but would continue to consider August 28 as their anniversary.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>He died of unknown causes on October 5; she woke up to him unresponsive and could not revive him. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Stepmother has swooped in, says she is the “executor” of the estate (there are no estate planning documents to PC's knowledge) and has taken titles to all of the vehicles and withdrawn the funds from the bank account. She says she is “holding them” for PC.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>I would be interested to know how you would approach this situation.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Thanks in advance for your insights.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=235 height=91 style='width:2.4433in;height:.9433in' id="_x0034_C484978-6AA3-4D2E-A853-51862CB7CAD2" src="cid:image002.gif@01D7D61C.390360B0"><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:black'><br>Amy</span></i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:black'>Amy J. Goertz, J.D.</span></i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:black'>Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC</span></i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:amyjgoertz@icloud.com">amyjgoertz@icloud.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>1.888.926.2607 phone<br>1.877.684.1627 fax<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Address for correspondence:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>2829 S. Grand Blvd., Suite 303<br>Spokane, WA 99203 <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Additional office locations:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>510 Bell Street<br>Edmonds, WA 98020<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goertzlambrecht.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cggibbs%40andersonhunterlaw.com%7C81743235246b463c060808d9a3e4c546%7Ccfd348433b124bd6850ebd6b59fd6f90%7C0%7C0%7C637721025495316397%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=PBGpAbI3GBRSAmzJcrmxMUFAVM4JmtTR1dDi8y0lzvw%3D&reserved=0">www.goertzlambrecht.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>