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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">First, the Lack of Probate Affidavit delivered to the County Recorder is due to a statute that requires that evidence that ownership passed by the death of the prior owner in order to avoid real estate sales
tax. In it, there are recitals under oath regarding the decedent’s intestate heirs and whether a Will exists. Only a probate would legally establish that your client is the only heir and that there is no Will devising the property to another person. Thus,
it is important to understand that a recorded Lack of Probate Affidavit does not cause any transfer of ownership.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Second, if a title company is confident regarding title passing to the one heir without a probate (based upon all information discovered of record and from a more thorough affidavit using the title company’s
form), the title company probably will not require a deed from the heir’s spouse as the basis to insure a next purchaser from the heir. An affidavit signed by another heir attesting to the same facts will be relied upon more than an affidavit from the person
who believes he/she is the only heir and entitled to ownership.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#44546A">Dwight A. Bickel, WTP<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray">Regional Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray">Fidelity National Title Group<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray">701 - 5th Avenue, Suite 2700<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray">Seattle, WA 98104<br>
Phone: (206) 370-3189</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:navy"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray">E-mail:
</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:Dwight.Bickel@fntg.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray">Dwight.Bickel@fntg.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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