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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Three thoughts:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Don’t give up on characterization of the house as community property. Under
<i>Borghi</i> and <i>Watanabe</i>, the name on title is not determinative, and when the quitclaim deed to remove a spouse from title was done for purposes of obtaining financing, it’s not evidence of an intent to actually change the property from community
to separate. I think on these facts, the surviving spouse can reasonably take the position that the house in fact was community property despite the deed.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The family support petition is a good backup plan, but if a probate of the husband’s estate was done, it might be too late. If there was a probate started
within 12 months of date of death, then the family support petition had to be filed within 18 months of date of death; but if there was no probate, then it can be filed up to 6 years after date of death.
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.54&full=true#11.54.010">
RCW 11.54.010</a>. Note also that the applicable laws are changing as of August 1, 2024. See
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.54&full=true#11.54.015">
RCW 11.54.015</a>. And yes, a family support petition can effectively disinherit children. But a lot of that is discretionary with the court, so the family support option is best as a backup plan if you can’t just establish that the house is community property.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I’m wondering why this is coming up now, five years after the husband died. Is she planning to sell? Are some of the kids asserting an interest? Either
way, it might be necessary to commence a probate of the husband’s estate (assuming one was not done previously). If a probate was already done, then call me to discuss; there might still be options.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>msafren@jennylinglaw.com<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, June 2, 2025 10:09 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv' <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Effect of QCD that established Family Home as Separate property when Decedent dies intestate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hello Fellow Listservers and Practitioners,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I wanted to solicit your input and opinions on a scenario. Husband and wife purchase family home back in 1989 while married, but due to wife’s poor credit, she quit claimed her interest in the home at closing
to ensure that husband is only person on Deed of Trust and Loan as well as on title using the WAC exemption to establish the property as separate property. The family home is their primary and only residence and wife has resided there continuously since
1989. In fact, husband passed away in 2020 and only wife has been paying the mortgage since then.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Husband has children from a previous marriage and husband and wife have multiple children together, but all children have reached the age of majority/ are adults.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Husband died without a will and so the right of the heirs at law to inherit is governed by RCW 11.04.015(1) which states “(1) Share of surviving spouse or state registered domestic partner. The surviving spouse
or state registered domestic partner shall receive the following share:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(a) All of the decedent's share of the net community estate; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(b) One-half of the net separate estate if the intestate is survived by issue”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">It therefore appears that the surviving spouse/ wife is only entitled to ½ of the family home and the children are entitled to ½ of the family home, even though the property was purchased while married with
what are presumptively community assets. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Questions:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Is anyone familiar with any case law that exempts real estate acquired during the marriage, but then deemed separate property from RCW 11.04.015 or alternatively that allows the court to treat real estate
acquired during the course of the marriage where one spouse conveyed their interest to the other spouse as still community property?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I was thinking that the surviving spouse is entitled to make a petition for family support to try to claim the entirety of the family home under RCW 11.54.010 with the basic award covering the entire equity
of the property (property is not very valuable). Does anyone have thoughts or input on this? Can a petition for family support from a surviving spouse dispossess the interest of other beneficiaries such as adult children of the decedent?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Thanks so much to all for your input and feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kind regards, <span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="color:purple">Michael S. Safren, Esq.</span></b>
<b><br>
</b><i>Attorney at Law</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
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