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diane: i think a 20 year cir is valid grounds for a lis pendens. i won't be the judge of your case, but you can tell him or her or them that is what i believe:)</div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> on behalf of Eric Nelsen <eric@sayrelawoffices.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 31, 2023 3:10 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Lis Pendens</font>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">RCW 4.28.230 governs. Lis pendens is only permitted if the filed claims directly affect title to the real property. It is procedural, for notice purposes, and confers no substantive rights.
<u>Dunham v. Tabb</u>, 27 Wn.App. 862, 866, 621 P.2d 179 (1980).</p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">I don’t know if propriety of a lis pendens has been resolved in the context of a committed intimate relationship. In a CIR the court can divide the community-like assets, which certainly affects title; but you’re going to be hanging out
there a bit because if the court rules there is no CIR, or the real property is not community-like, the lis pendens could be considered wrongful.</p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">The penalty statute is RCW 4.28.238 and there are two standards for an award:</p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Under (2), if the action does not actually affect title to real property. This would be an issue of law based on the claims made by plaintiff, and I would hope that a judge would recognize that a CIR is an issue regarding equitable ownership
and affects title such that lis pendens is appropriate.</p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Under (3), if the property owner prevails in the lawsuit, and the claimant cannot prove a “substantial justification” for filing the lis pendens. That sounds like a pretty easy bar to clear, so if the CIR is pretty solid (20+ years of
cohabitation, engaged even if never married, pooled resources, made a home together, etc.), and the real property was acquired during the CIR so that there is a presumption it is community-like, then even if the court ultimately determines it’s the defendant’s
separate property and/or the plaintiff is not allocated any interest, I would hope that the plaintiff nevertheless had “substantial justification.”</p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">Sincerely,</span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">Eric</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">Eric C. Nelsen</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">1417 31st Ave South</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">Seattle WA 98144-3909</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">206-625-0092</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style=""><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><b><span style="">From:</span></b><span style=""> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Diane J. Kiepe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 31, 2023 2:44 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Lis Pendens</span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hello,</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I am hoping someone can help me with a quick answer related to Lis pendens – I have a pc who lived with her Fiancé for like 20 years. He died, no plan, daughter says
get out of the house. I strongly believe that she has a strong case for interest in the assets (although the Fiancé made significantly more money). I am wondering what is the legal standard I should be considering before filing a Lis pendens – I know they
can’t be filed willie nillie but I also recall hearing that if you file one and your claim is later invalidated you are subject to damages – I would think there is a good faith standard at least. Hope to research this more but it’s really bothering me at
the moment.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold""> </span></i></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold"">Diane J. Kiepe</span></i></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">Douglas Eden, P.S.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">717 W. Sprague Ave., Suite 1500</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">Spokane, WA 99201</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style=""><a href="mailto:djkiepe@depdslaw.com">djkiepe@depdslaw.com</a></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="">509-455-5300</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">KINDLY ALLOW 2-4 WORKING DAYS TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE TO NON-URGENT EMAILS. FEEL FREE TO SEND YOUR EMAIL (OR RESEND YOUR EMAIL AS THE CASE MAY BE) MARKED URGENT IN THE SUBJECT LINE.</span></p>
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