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<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA</strong><br>
<strong>_______________________________________________________ </strong><br>
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July 8, 2022 <br>
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Dalynne,<br>
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In the divorce context, dog issues come up periodically. I always inquire 1) when was the pet was purchased, and 2) was it a gift from one spouse to the other. This helps determine if it is separate or community property.<br>
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That said, the character of the pet is never really the deciding factor. I have only <u>once</u> had a case where a monetary value was given to the dog and spouse who got to keep the dog had to financially compensate my client. In that case, it was a pair of expensive pitbulls and their extensive expensive accessories. The pitbulls were recently purchased and it would have cost alot to replace them.<br>
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More often, a pet is treated like a family member. You could inquire into the grieving family’s interest or motivation for wanting the dog. Did they have regular contact with this pet and they don’t want to lose future contact? Or, do they see the dog as an extension of deceased and it’s their way of maintaining contact with the deceased? Is it an expensive dog and they want the monetary value? Or, do they dislike the surviving spouse/partner and just feel like hassling her? <br>
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Similar questions to the surviving partner. How long had she lived with this dog, what’s this dog’s relationship/ attachment to her and to the dog she is keeping? Had the community invested a fair amount into this dog (money wise) even though the separate property of deceased. Are their health/ environmental issues that would be detrimental to the dog if there were a transfer of ownership?<br>
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I have prepared short term visitation plans (like one year or less) to soften the transition for the person who is losing the pet.<br>
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If you address each party's interests, and if you explore all of the above with both sides, there is no reason the parties should not be able to reach a resolution. You can do this yourself directly or through formal mediation.<br>
<br>
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 Dalynne Singleton <<a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com">dalynne@glgmail.com</a>>:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I need to inquire about anyone who has handled a dog issue in probate where the dog is separate property of decedent, but being kept by a partner after death, refusing to provide dog to the family.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">If anyone has had this issue and was able to obtain “custody” of the dog for the grieving family, I would love to hear from you. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">This is certainly a new issue for me. By the way, there is a second dog that the partner is keeping as her own and the adult children are in agreement.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Dalynne Singleton</span></i></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Gourley Law Group</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Snohomish Escrow</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>The Exchange Connection</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>1002 10<sup>th</sup> Street / PO Box 1091</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Snohomish, WA 98291</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>360.568.5065</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>360.568.1717 fax</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'><a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1">dalynne@glgmail.com</span></a></span></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Website: <a href="http://www.glglawgroup.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.glglawgroup.com</span></a></span></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>As we face the challenges presented by COVID-19, Attorney/client meetings will be handled by teleconference or virtually whenever possible. I am working remotely and available by email, telephone, in-person or zoom. If you would like to set a conference with me, please call or email my paralegal <a href="mailto:theresa@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">theresa@glgmail.com</span></a>, <a href="mailto:angelina@glgmail.com"><span style="color:blue">angelina@glgmail.com</span></a> or <a href="mailto:cameron@glgmail.com"><span style="color:blue">cameron@glgmail.com</span></a>.</span></p>
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