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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Sarah,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I saw Craig’s response about needing a quiet title action. I doubt the surviving spouse will cooperate, if you find them. A title company should clarify this; would a commissioner appointed by the probate court work or do you need a quiet title action.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeff<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>W. Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>BELL & DAVIS PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Attorneys at Law</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br>P.O. Box 510<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>720 E. Washington Street, Suite 105<br>Sequim WA 98382<br>Phone: (360) 683.1129 <br>Fax: (360) 683.1258 <br>email: </span><a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br></span><a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>www.bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br> <br>The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please e-mail the sender at </span><a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>info@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> or call 360.683.1129.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></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><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sarah Smith<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 13, 2024 10:38 AM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] PR's Duty RE Transferring Real Property & Divorce<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Jeff, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Divorce decree is on it’s way, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’m hoping it’ll be detailed enough to clearly show the transfer of the ex-spouse’s interest in this specific home to the decedent as his separate property, but I realize I can’t assume that will be the case. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Sarah C. Smith, JD, LL.M.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>We’ve moved! As of September 1, 2023, our new address is 12900 NE 180th Street, Suite 230, Bothell, WA 98011.</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Condie & Adams, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>12900 NE 180<sup>th</sup> Street, Suite 230<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Bothell, WA 98011<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Phone</span></i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>: (425) 450-1040 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Fax</span></i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>: (425) 450-1041<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Email</span></i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>:<span style='border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'> </span></span><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:sarah@condieadams.com" title="sarah@condieadams.com"><span style='color:#4472C4;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>sarah@condieadams.com</span></a></span><span style='color:#4472C4;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>Web</span></i><span style='color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>: </span><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.condieadams.com/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#4472C4;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>www.condieadams.com</span></a></span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>Unless otherwise expressly indicated, any federal tax advice contained in this communication, including attachments and enclosures, is not intended or written to be used, and may not be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding tax-related penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed herein.</span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE DISCLAIMER</span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>This message is from the Law Office of CONDIE & ADAMS, PLLC, and is intended only for the addressee. The information contained in this message is privileged, confidential, and protected by the attorney-client or attorney work product privileges. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, disclosure or use of such information is strictly prohibited. If you are not the addressee, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender of the delivery error by return e-mail or you may call our office at (425) 450-1040. Nothing in this message should be interpreted as a digital or electronic signature that can be used to authenticate a contract or other legal document.</span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></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><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</span></a><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> <</span><a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</span></a><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>> <b>On Behalf Of </b></span><a href="mailto:Jeff@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 13, 2024 6:11 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <</span><a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</span></a><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] PR's Duty RE Transferring Real Property & Divorce<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sarah,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First, talk with a title company. See what their title officers prefer to insure title. Its possible you can have the Court appoint you as a commissioner on behalf of the decedent’s spouse to transfer that spouses interest to the decedent or estate. Look at RCW 6.28. Do you have a copy of the divorce decree?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>W. Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>BELL & DAVIS PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Attorneys at Law</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br>P.O. Box 510<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>720 E. Washington Street, Suite 105<br>Sequim WA 98382<br>Phone: (360) 683.1129 <br>Fax: (360) 683.1258 <br>email: </span><a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br></span><a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>www.bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br> <br>The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please e-mail the sender at </span><a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>info@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> or call 360.683.1129.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></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><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</span></a><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> <</span><a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</span></a><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sarah Smith<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 12, 2024 7:07 PM<br><b>To:</b> </span><a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</span></a><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] PR's Duty RE Transferring Real Property & Divorce<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Everyone, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have a decedent who left a specific gift of real estate to a charity in his Will. I am confident the charity will want to list the property for sale as soon as they receive it. Unfortunately, it appears that the decedent’s spouse is still listed as a joint owner on the last vesting deed – a new quitclaim deed was never recorded after the divorce. Given that the divorce was decades ago and no one kept in contact with the ex-spouse, tracking her down for a quitclaim deed would not be ideal. Has anyone run into a situation like this? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Given the PR’s responsibility to transfer the decedent’s property to the appropriate beneficiaries, is it enough to simply execute a PR deed transferring the decedent’s interest in the property to the beneficiary? Or does the PR owe a greater duty to the beneficiary when transferring such property? And what is the most efficient way to tackle a situation like this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Sarah C. Smith, JD, LL.M.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>We’ve moved! As of September 1, 2023, our new address is 12900 NE 180th Street, Suite 230, Bothell, WA 98011.</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Condie & Adams, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>12900 NE 180<sup>th</sup> Street, Suite 230<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Bothell, WA 98011<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Phone</span></i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>: (425) 450-1040 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Fax</span></i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>: (425) 450-1041<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Email</span></i><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>:<span style='border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'> </span></span><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:sarah@condieadams.com" title="sarah@condieadams.com"><span style='color:#4472C4;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>sarah@condieadams.com</span></a></span><span style='color:#4472C4;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>Web</span></i><span style='color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>: </span><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.condieadams.com/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#4472C4;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>www.condieadams.com</span></a></span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>Unless otherwise expressly indicated, any federal tax advice contained in this communication, including attachments and enclosures, is not intended or written to be used, and may not be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding tax-related penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed herein.</span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE DISCLAIMER</span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;mso-ligatures:none'>This message is from the Law Office of CONDIE & ADAMS, PLLC, and is intended only for the addressee. The information contained in this message is privileged, confidential, and protected by the attorney-client or attorney work product privileges. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, disclosure or use of such information is strictly prohibited. If you are not the addressee, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender of the delivery error by return e-mail or you may call our office at (425) 450-1040. Nothing in this message should be interpreted as a digital or electronic signature that can be used to authenticate a contract or other legal document.</span><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>