<div dir="ltr"><font size="4">Eric:</font><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Ok. This is good. I think the language would be contractual in that both agree to the Trust upon the death of the first of the spouses. Hence, a combination of both approaches, contract and trust.</font><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Does anyone have language as to that effect?</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Jim Doran</font></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div>James R. Doran<br></div>Attorney at Law<br></div>100 E. Pine Street - Suite 205<br></div>Bellingham, WA 98225<br>(360)393-9506<br></div><a href="mailto:jim@doranlegal.com" target="_blank">jim@doranlegal.com</a><br></div><a href="http://www.doranlegal.com" target="_blank">www.doranlegal.com</a><br></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 3:28 PM, Eric Nelsen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:Eric@sayrelawoffices.com" target="_blank">Eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="m_-3288768215346411152WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Jim--there was a discussion was back in 2015 I think. I found this in my sent mail from one of my previous posts:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">My primary concern always is identification and control of the decedent's assets that are supposed to eventually go to the decedent's kids, through an unknown
amount of time until the surviving spouse dies. My secondary concern is flexibility for the surviving spouse to accommodate changed circumstances in a way that fairly balances the surviving spouse's interests with that of the decedent's kids.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">When we last had a listserve discussion about Will contracts (in the context of mutual Wills), I copied into my files the following comments from others:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Mutual wills are clumsy and the law relating to them is not well developed. If there's a possibility that one of the spouses might
remarry following the first death, consider how the survivor's mutual will would work, in light of the new marriage. E.g., if surviving wife remarries and doesn't make a new will, upon her death the 2nd husband becomes entitled to that share of the wife's
estate as if she had died intestate. That would blow up any plan envisioned by mutual wills. Or, suppose wife dies, surviving husband remarries; the new wife then dies and leaves her estate to the husband. Can surviving husband bequeath any of the assets
that he inherited from the 2nd wife to her kids? Is the surviving spouse precluded from making non probate transfers? Gifts?
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Just food for thought. Trusts are more flexible-they can account for all the assets acquired by the couple, without locking in a survivor
with respect to assets acquired with a new spouse.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">And irrevocable means that it can be problematic for surviving spouse to deal with changes in the circumstances of children, such as
the need for a special needs trust for a subsequently disabled child; or other circumstances that require change. I would at least retain the ability to change provisions as to one's own children; since the purpose is (I assume) to prevent the children of
deceased spouse from being disinherited.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">If for some reason I do conclude that mutual Wills might be the way to go, my starting point is the following draft language, subject of course to editing as
I consider the specific circumstances and the priorities of the client:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">This Last Will and Testament is executed pursuant to an agreement with the Testator's spouse that (1) they shall execute and maintain
mutual Wills that make reciprocal provisions for disposition of property after they both are deceased as set forth in this Last Will and Testament, and that (2) after the death of the first of them, the Last Will and Testament of the survivor shall be irrevocable
as to disposition of (a) all property that was community property at the time of the first spouse's death and the rents, issues, profits, and proceeds thereof, and (b) any and all other property received by the survivor from the first spouse to die, whether
under the Will or by non-probate transfer or otherwise, and the rents, issues, profits, and proceeds thereof. By executing this Last Will and Testament, the Testator acknowledges the existence of said agreement between the spouses, and intends to be bound
thereby.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Have the other spouse sign under this contract language, on the testator's Will, so there is contemporaneous acknowledgment of the contract by both parties.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">A major problem I see with this draft language is the rat's nest of asset-tracing that has to be done when the surviving spouse dies. It's a huge opportunity
for litigation and a great way to ruin relationships. Thus my preference for segregation via a trust when the first spouse dies; it eliminates the need to trace assets.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Eric<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Eric C. Nelsen<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">1417 31st Ave South<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Seattle WA 98144-3909<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">phone 206-625-0092<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">fax 206-625-9040<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.<wbr>com</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbarp-bounces@lists.<wbr>wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jim Doran<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 26, 2018 2:37 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Blended Families<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Listies:</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">I am pretty sure we have been over this matter before. but let me ask a simple question regarding blended families.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Isn't it the easiest way to deal with property owned as CP in a blended family situation for each spouse to make their Will out to give each one's CP interest to their own children AND to then execute a contract
to NOT change the Wills upon the death of the first of them. Then give a copy of the Will and contract to each side of the blended family so that the "beneficiaries" will be able to make sure that the contract is followed. The beneficiaries would have standing
to enforce the contract, if need be.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">very other approach seems to be rather difficult.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Thank you.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Jim Doran</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><br clear="all">
</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">James R. Doran<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attorney at Law<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">100 E. Pine Street - Suite 205<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bellingham, WA 98225<br>
(360)393-9506<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:jim@doranlegal.com" target="_blank">jim@doranlegal.com</a><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.doranlegal.com" target="_blank">www.doranlegal.com</a><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
WSBARP mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:WSBARP@lists.wsbarppt.com">WSBARP@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbarp" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/<wbr>mailman/listinfo/wsbarp</a><br></blockquote></div><br></div>