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<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, in fact I’m pretty sure that is already permitted, under the existing divorce rules allowing for an “equitable lien of reimbursement” to the community for community assets/labor used to maintain or improve one spouse’s separate property.
The cases state that CIR “community-like” property is created by analogy under the same principles that create community property, so a CIR should be able to argue for an equitable lien of reimbursement for CIR assets/labor used to maintain or improve one
partner’s separate property.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That said, the cases also state that the court literally has “no jurisdiction” over separate property of either CIR partner, so I’m not entirely positive the analogy will hold up. I don’t know if there is a reported case on it. I do know
that I have argued equitable lien for reimbursement in a CIR division, and nobody questioned it at the time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<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"><span style="color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></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>
</div>
<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>Diane J. Kiepe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 26, 2022 8:51 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Is CIR applicable in a probate to claim assets of the estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Eric explained it well – I am betting in the future this principal will be broadened to include property carried into the relationship where the surviving partner provided services to or funds acquired during
the relationship were used to improve/upkeep such property – but that just my opinion. It’s based in equity and as such, the pandora’s box has been opened.<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>Susan Donahue<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 25, 2022 1:41 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] Is CIR applicable in a probate to claim assets of the estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Thank you Eric. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On May 25, 2022, at 1:01 PM, Eric Nelsen <<a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CIR applies even if one or both of the partners is deceased. The survivor is not an heir and doesn’t inherit anything, but the property the couple acquired during the CIR that “would be” community property had they been married must be
equitably divided by the court, and the portion allocated to the survivor is owned by the survivor outright. The decedent’s portion is inherited by their heirs at law or will beneficiaries as applicable.<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. 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>
</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><a href="mailto:sdonahue@sdonahuelaw.com">sdonahue@sdonahuelaw.com</a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 25, 2022 12:33 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] Is CIR applicable in a probate to claim assets of the estate?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello list serve,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think I recall that this question has come up, but I have a potential client who was in a CIR for 20 years. Her partner died without a will and a probate has been opened by his family. His family is not speaking to her. The estate
asset she is wondering about is some real property with a cabin on it that he owned, but he lived with her in a house in town during their relationship. I think I recall that a CIR is not applicable in a probate setting but only when a couple ends their relationship
and wants to divide the assets. Although I did do a probate of a young man who died and his family were entirely agreeable to divide his asset with his fiancé. So, I recall submitting evidence to the court of their CIR. It was not contested and went smoothly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This situation is different and would be highly contested.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’d appreciate any thoughts on this.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Susan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt">SUSAN DONAHUE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Law Office of Susan Donahue</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">125 West 2<sup>nd</sup> Avenue, Suite “B”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">P.O. Box 81</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Twisp, WA 98856</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">(509) 996-5944 (phone)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">(509) 362-9692 (fax)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:sdonahue@sdonahuelaw.com"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">sdonahue@sdonahuelaw.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>
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