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<p class="MsoNormal">Listserv--<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Decedent passed away without a will. He had a surviving spouse, and 4 step-children (none of them adopted by decedent).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under intestate succession statute, surviving spouse gets everything (decedent had no biological children), and stepchildren receive nothing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Only asset of the estate is a large monetary judgment in wrongful death action. Wrongful death action was prosecuted by the personal representative in the name of the estate.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RCW 4.20.020 says the beneficiaries of the wrongful death action are the surviving spouse…and children,
<u>including stepchildren</u>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under RCW 4.20.020, it seems that stepchildren are entitled to a portion (?) of the wrongful death award. However, under the intestate succession statute, they aren’t entitled to any property of the estate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How are these statutes reconciled? I can’t seem to find any case law on it.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any thoughts would be appreciated!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">Eric J. Lanza, J.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#E36C0A"><img width="302" height="78" style="width:3.1458in;height:.8125in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D47C22.A445D800" alt="Logo Color 946x243 pixels"></span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#404040">1800 Cooper Point RD SW NO. 8</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5D6F21"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5C6D2C">|</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5D6F21"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C"> Olympia,
WA 98502</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5D6F21">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C">Telephone 360.352.1970 </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5C6D2C">| </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C"> Fax
360.357.0844 </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5C6D2C">|</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5D6F21"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C"> <a href="http://www.jaglaw.net/"><span style="color:blue">www.jaglaw.net</span></a>
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#17365D"><a href="mailto:eric@jaglaw.net"><span style="color:blue">eric@jaglaw.net</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#17365D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#000099">Nothing contained herein should be construed as legal advice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#000099">please reply advising of the mistake and then delete this message
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#000099">from your computer. Should you have any questions,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#000099">please call the Sender at 360-352-1970.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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