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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">I won't comment on my age, but…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">My understanding is that the abbreviated legal description in the heading of a deed (along with the parcel number) is used for the Department of Revenue to connect
that deed with a particular piece of real property. Notwithstanding the language of the abbreviated legal description in the heading, the body of a deed should always contain the full legal description for the purpose of conveyance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Sometimes, however, the abbreviated legal description shown on the Assessor's website is not consistent with the full legal description of the property being conveyed.
In those cases, I try to resolve the differences by referring to the vesting documents for the property. If you are nice, a title company may even be willing to send you a copy of the vesting document(s) at no charge. After that, if it looks like the Assessor's
abbreviated legal description is off the mark, you can always call the Assessor's Office about it. In my experience, they have been willing to help sort things out. In one instance, based on a phone call I had with the Assessor's Office, they actually changed
the abbreviated legal description that was shown on their website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">As a (perhaps not so) last resort, you can always create your own abbreviated legal description from the full legal description.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Mark B. Anderson<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">ANDERSON LAW FIRM PLLC<br>
821 Dock St Ste 209 PMB 4-12<br>
Tacoma, Washington 98402<br>
+1 253-327-1750<br>
+1 253-327-1751 (fax)<br>
<a href="mailto:marka@mbaesq.com"><span style="color:#002060">marka@mbaesq.com</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.mbaesq.com/"><span style="color:#002060">www.mbaesq.com</span></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:#002060">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:#002060">This transmission is confidential and is intended solely for the use of the individual named recipient. It may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, work
product doctrine, or other confidentiality protection. If you are not the intended recipient, or the person responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, be advised that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is prohibited.
If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the sender via e-mail or by telephone at (253) 327-1750 that you have received the message in error, and then delete it. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Roger Hawkes<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 11, 2024 7:12 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] rejection re Abbreviated Legal Description on recorded document<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I also believe that. And, yes, I am also an old guy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>TJW<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 18, 2023 5:44 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Real Property Listserv' <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] rejection re Abbreviated Legal Description on recorded document<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Hello Joshua,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">I was taught many years ago to always use the full legal description in all deeds and contracts, etc. So that has always been my practice. I have never believed that the abbreviated
legal from the Assessor or even a title company is the correct way to describe the property. But then I’m into this profession for 50 years now and may just be an old guy that hasn’t kept up with the times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Thomas J. Westbrook<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="152" height="62" style="width:1.5833in;height:.6458in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DB0432.BD5F7FF0"></span><span style="color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">324 West Bay Drive NW, Suite 201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Olympia, WA 98502<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">(360) 866-4000 phone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">(360) 866--3832 fax<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.buddbaylaw.com/"><span style="color:blue">www.buddbaylaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red;mso-ligatures:none">COVID POLICY:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Our firm continues to follow guidance from the CDC and Governor Inslee’s office regarding social distancing and the wearing of face coverings, and we encourage the public and our clients
to do the same. Our staff is still working remotely much of the time so electronic communication by phone and email continues to be encouraged. We appreciate your patience and understanding.</span></i><span style="color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Joshua Grant<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 18, 2023 3:25 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] rejection re Abbreviated Legal Description on recorded document<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1">I just received a letter from a County Auditor who advised that an abbreviated legal description I used “is not accurate” citing RCW 65.04.045. I looked at
that statute and see that it was last amended in 2005. Notwithstanding using, what the county shows as an abbreviated legal on their Assessor’s website, hundreds of times since 2005, the Auditor now advises that what must be used is “the name of the Plat,
do not use Org. or Orig Add”. The statute reads” </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"> "abbreviated legal description
of the property" means lot, block, plat, or section, township, range, and quarter/quarter section,”.. The name of many of the Town “plats” in this area are shown as Original Addition to the Town of ______. Or “Railroad Addition to the Town of ______.” The
auditor goes on to say “The Assessor’s website should not be used to obtain property descriptions. If you need help with a legal description or an abbreviated legal description, please contact a title company or surveyor”. My guess is that some memo has
come from the State, possibly the Department of Revenue, Excise Tax section??? Because this isn’t a new statute. It’s not bad enough that the recording fee is now over $200 for the first page… but now we have to get a title report to record a simple gift
deed?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Anyone have any authority to counter the legal advice I have received
from an Auditor’s Office? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Thanks<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Josh</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:#004080;mso-ligatures:none">Joshua F. Grant</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#004080;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="166" height="34" style="width:1.7291in;height:.3541in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01DB0432.BD5F7FF0"></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="color:#004080;mso-ligatures:none">P. O. Box 619<br>
Wilbur, WA 99185<br>
509 647 5578<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"></span></span><a href="mailto:jgrant@advocateslg.com"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">jgrant@advocateslg.com</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2"></span><span style="color:#004080;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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