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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Trick question, and tricky law. Refer to 11.07.010(5)(a)(i) for the language removing ERISA-governed retirement accounts and life insurance policies from the definition of “nonprobate asset” as used in this
statute.<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">Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sara<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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><font color="#02a2c4"><strong>Sara D. Longley</strong></font> <a href="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Sara_Longley.vcf" title="Download VCARD for Sara D. Longley" style="color: rgb(218, 98, 30); text-decoration-line: none;"><img src="http://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/enev.gif" alt="" width="16" height="12" border="0"></a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-right: 15px;"><font color="#02a2c4">Associate</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-top: 6px;"><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/practus.png" alt="Practus Logo" align="left" width="173"></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 6px;"><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/phone.png" alt="Phone" align="left"></td><td style="padding-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><font color="#124E65">(360) 378-4450 (Main Office)</font></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/phone.png" alt="Phone" align="left"></td><td style="padding-bottom: 2px;"><font color="#124E65">(360) 468-7230 (Direct Dial)</font></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/email.png" alt="Email" valign="center" align="left"></td><td #124e65"="" style="padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="mailto:sara.longley@practus.com" id="emaillink" class="nounderline emaillink" title="Email Sara D. Longley" style="color: rgb(18, 78, 101); text-decoration-line: none;">sara.longley@practus.com</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.practus.com/vcard/Files/bio.png" alt="Biography" valign="center" align="left"></td><td #da621e"="" style="padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://practus.com/attorney/sara-d-longley/" class="nounderline signature" title="View Biography for Sara D. Longley" style="color: rgb(218, 98, 30); text-decoration-line: none;">My Bio</a> | <font color="#DA621E"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradlongley/" class="nounderline signature" title="View LinkedIn for Sara D. Longley" style="color: rgb(218, 98, 30); text-decoration-line: none;">Connect on LinkedIn</a></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Brent Williams-Ruth<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 19, 2026 3:52 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Second Attempt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Greetings Everyone - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I had sent this originally right before Christmas and didn't get a single response, so I am going to try again....<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Greetings All - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I am reading through 11.07.010 and I am slightly confused. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">At first the statute reads: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">If a marriage or state registered domestic partnership is dissolved or invalidated, or a state registered domestic partnership terminated, a provision made prior to that event
that relates to the payment or transfer at death of the decedent's interest in a nonprobate asset in favor of or granting an interest or power to the decedent's former spouse or state registered domestic partner, is revoked....</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">But then the very next lines state that (b) This subsection does not apply if and to the extent that:</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">(i) The instrument governing disposition of the nonprobate asset expressly provides otherwise.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">So here is where I am stuck. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">Let's say I start a job and have a retirement account and I name my spouse as the beneficiary through the completed beneficiary designation. A couple years go by, I get divorced
but I totally forget about my retirement because I'm a good saver and don't even think about the parts of my salary that don't hit my bank account. Years go by and I suddenly pass away. My Ex is still on the beneficiary designation. I never updated it. I
never re-affirmed that I wanted him to get those funds even though we were divorced. There is no requirement in the decree that he stay as the beneficiary. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">So would this situation where this is a provision made prior to divorce that transfered my interest on death OR is the beneficiary designation an "instrument governing the disposition"
that left my account to my ex? </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">Thank you!</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">Brent</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brent Williams-Ruth</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> (pronouns: he/him)<br>
<i>Attorney-At-Law</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal Way, WA 98003</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">Mailing Address:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><span style="color:red">(253) 285-7751</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">For All Meetings & Scheduling:
<a href="mailto:info@williams-ruthlaw.com" target="_blank">info@williams-ruthlaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> / <a href="http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/" target="_blank">website</a> /</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">facebook</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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