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<p class="MsoNormal">C and D are married, and live in a house that C acquired prior to marriage. D additionally has executed a quit claim deed confirming that the house is C's separate property.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. Can D claim a homestead in the house? No ownership interest, but it is D's place of residence just as much as it is C's.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. What is D's legal status as an occupant, anyway? Tenant at will? If D has any legal status as a tenant at all, does that sustain the right to homestead?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any legal and equitable interest in a property, including a lease, is sufficient to create a homestead.
<u>Downey v. Wilber</u>, 117 Wn. 660, 202 P. 256 (1921). <u>But see</u> <u>Northwest Cascade, Inc. v. Unique Construction, Inc.</u>, 187 Wn.App. 685, 351 P.3d 172 (Div. 2, May 19, 2015), holding that "mere occupancy and possession" of a property is not enough
interest to claim as a homestead, <u>citing</u> <u>see</u> <u>SSG Corp. v. Cunningham</u>, 74 Wn.App. 708, 714, 875 P.2d 16 (1994).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Northwest Cascade</u> and <u>SSG Corp.</u> both appear to involve bad actors who were blurring the line between their personal assets and assets of a wholly-owned corporation. In the case of an innocent spouse, with that spouse be considered
a tenant at will, and would that be a sufficient equitable interest to support claiming a homestead?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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