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<p class="MsoNormal">I envy the speed and thoroughness that Eric always brings to his responses; he beats me to the punch every time.
<span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">😊</span> I wholeheartedly agree with what he said below.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The only thing I would add is that given that the family support award increase is so new, I have no practical experience with how the courts are deviating from the amount of the award. I can see the court being much more reluctant to award
(King County’s) $729,600 to a surviving spouse when a year ago all the they could receive was $125,000 (with the court given some discretion to increase or decrease the amount).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Note also that if the surviving spouse petitions for an award, the adult son can join in on that petition and ask for a share of the award.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">James W. Spencer</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brothers & Henderson, P.S.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">2722 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">Seattle, Washington 98102</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">Phone: (206) 324-4300 x106</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">Fax: (206) 324-3106</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">e-mail: <a href="mailto:jamess@brothershenderson.com">
<span style="color:blue">jamess@brothershenderson.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.brothershenderson.com/"><span style="color:blue">www.brothershenderson.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">pronouns: he/him<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><img border="0" width="196" height="56" style="width:2.0416in;height:.5833in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D811CF.A7F0FAC0"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The information transmitted in this e-mail message and attachments is attorney-client information, is privileged or confidential material and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above.
You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, review by or taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this e-mail information by unauthorized persons is strictly prohibited. All personal messages are solely the views of the sender
and are not to be attributed to Brothers & Henderson, P.S. If you have received this transmission in error, immediately notify the sender by reply e-mail and permanently delete this transmission and all copies including attachments.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></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>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 24, 2022 3:04 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Half Interest in Marital House Left to Spouse<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Other facts may cause results to vary, but:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">House was H’s separate property as it was acquired before marriage and fully paid off, so no mortgage payments made during marriage. W typically could not show a title interest unless
H actually signed a deed transferring an interest to her.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">The marital community (and by extension, surviving W for her 1/2 of the community)
<b><i>might</i></b> have an “equitable lien for reimbursement” to the extent community funds were used to pay for taxes, insurance, maintenance and repair, but that would be offset by the fair rental value the community benefited by living in H’s separate property
house without paying rent. So this <b><i>probably</i></b> zeros out.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">W could in theory apply for a family support award under Ch. 11.54 RCW (deadlines apply—see the statutes). A family support award takes priority over disposition by will. The basic
amount of the award varies by county now, defined by median house value in the county. In King County it’s presently $729,600. BUT award to W can be reduced by many factors so there’s no guarantee she would get anywhere close to that amount. In that case,
she would file a separate TEDRA petition for a family support award, in her individual capacity, per the procedures described in that chapter.<o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those are my initial thoughts anyway.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<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. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please
direct mail and deliveries to the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
<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>Dan Goodman<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 24, 2022 2:45 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Half Interest in Marital House Left to Spouse<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Good afternoon all,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">PC is PR for deceased husband's estate. At the time of marriage, 15 years ago, H already owned the house outright. Wife was never put on title. H's will gives 1/2 interest in house to wife and 1/2 interest to adult son (who is a physician on
the East Coast and is probably not desperate for it). Is Wife entitled to more than the 1/2 interest, having been married to Decedent and lived in it the entire time? As the house was already paid for, CP funds were not paying the mortgage.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If she does have a claim to more than 1/2, does she petition for that separately from her role as PR?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dan Goodman<o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-678-6573<o:p></o:p></p>
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