[WSBARP] TIC or JTWROS?

[Eric Nelsen]

I agree you need to claw it back; the husband's half interest should be transferred into the trust. Though if the Will/Trust terms allow it, I suppose you could instead make an alternative agreement with the surviving spouse, to other assets of equivalent value to put into the trust as a substitute.

Some technical supporting points that don't change the result:

If a parcel of real property is community property between two living spouses, it's not governed by tenant in common rules. Instead, management and control is governed by RCW 26.16.030<https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.16.030>. The actual name on the deed, even if it's only in one spouse's name, doesn't actually matter much except for some nuances relating to notice to third parties; see e.g. RCW 26.16.095 and RCW 26.16.100<https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.16&full=true#26.16.095>. See also In re Estate of Borghi, 167 Wn.2d 480, 219 P.3d 932 (2009), which states that the names on the deed don't really mean that much when it comes to determining characterization of the property as separate or community.

But once the first spouse dies, real property immediately vests in the surviving spouse as the heir at law to all community property, RCW 11.04.250<https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.04.250>, but subject to all debts, etc., of the decedent, and if a probate is commenced the PR ends up with control and can effectively divest the spouse.

When the probate commences it acquires jurisdiction over the entirety of community property. The death of a spouse terminates the marital relationship and the "marital community." Bank of Montreal v. Buchanan, 32 Wn. 480, 73 P. 482 (1903); see also Washington State Bar Assn. Community Property Deskbook (4th ed. 2014) (hereinafter "CP Deskbook"), Sec. 4.11. At death of the first spouse, the community "ceases to exist." Sutton v. Hirvonen, 113 Wn.2d 1, 6, 775 P.2d 448 (1989). The first deceased spouse's Estate accordingly has jurisdiction over all community property and community liability, not just the decedent's half, in order to dispose of all community matters. Ruth v. Dight, 75 Wn.2d 660, 670, 453 P.2d 631 (1969) (claim against the community cannot be pursued against surviving spouse if not also properly brought against the deceased spouse's estate); Gilliam v. City of Centralia, 14 Wn.2d 523, 531, 128 P.2d 661 (1942) (deceased spouse's Personal Representative, not the surviving spouse, has authority to pursue a community claim); Magee v. Big Bend Land Co., 51 Wash. 406, 408, 99 P. 16 (1909) (administration of first spouse's estate had jurisdiction and authority to sell the entire community real property). See also CP Deskbook, Sec. 4.13.

So at the end of the probate the PR, in accordance with the Will and assuming all debts, etc., have been paid, could distribute the decedent's one-half interest in the community real estate into the Trust. At that point, and no sooner, do the tenant-in-common rules apply, to the Trust and the surviving spouse as tenants in common.

Sincerely,

Eric

Eric C. Nelsen
SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC
1417 31st Ave South
Seattle WA  98144-3909
phone 206-625-0092
fax 206-625-9040

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Mark Vohr
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 5:33 PM
To: wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com
Subject: [WSBARP] TIC or JTWROS?

I have a title person in Jefferson county telling me it's common practice in title companies when property is acquired as "husband and wife" (the type of ownership - TIC or JTWROS is not indicated in the deed)  to pass the ownership to the surviving spouse without any kind of conveyance since Washington is a community property state, all they require is proof of death of the spouse.  Title has always done this, we've used death certificates, lack of probate affidavit's or actual probates as proof of death of the spouse and then just vest the ownership in the surviving spouse.

My understanding is that a transfer to H&W (or any conveyance to more than one person) without indicating the type of ownership creates a tenancy in common, RCW 64.28.020.   In our case the decedent left his entire estate in trust for his surviving spouse, which I would conclude would include his TIC share in real property.  Title transferred it all to the surviving spouse.  It would seem we have to claw it back.

Thoughts?  Thanks in advance.


Regards,

Mark

Ohana Fiduciary Corp.
A Washington Trust Company

Mark C. Vohr, J.D., CPG, Principal
PO Box 33710  Seattle, WA  98133
T:  (206) 782-1189 F:  (206) 782-1434
mcv at ohanafc.com<mailto:mcv at ohanafc.com>      www.ohanafc.com<http://www.ohanafc.com/>

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