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<p class="MsoNormal">I would recommend a written, acknowledged agreement of separate property status as to this specific asset if they want to be reasonably confident this unusual division will be enforced later without confusion or litigation. Ounce of prevention
and all.... <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Jason</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><b><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">W.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><b><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Burnett<br>
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Attorney at Law</span><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Reed Longyear Corwin Burnett & Calogero, PLLC<br>
</span><img width="207" height="45" style="width:2.1562in;height:.4687in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DD1372.C8A096F0"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">801 Second Ave, Suite 1415, Seattle, WA 98104<br>
(206) 624‑6271 | Fax: (206) 624‑6672<br>
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="mailto:jburnett@reedlongyearlaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#93B479">jburnett@reedlongyearlaw.com</span></a><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#93B479;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="http://www.reedlongyearlaw.com/"><span style="color:#93B479">www.reedlongyearlaw.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#4E4848;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">The information in this email message may be privileged and confidential. It is intended only for the use of the recipient named above (or
the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient). If you received this in error, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.</span><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 14, 2026 9:15 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Married couple as tenants in common<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You are not mistaken, but it’s probably easier to do what the title insurer wants and then do a deed post-closing, from the couple as grantors to each of them as grantees to create the 80-20 separate property interests.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Note that the result would definitely be separate property interests and not community property; it’s not possible for a married couple to hold
<i>community</i> property as anything other than “community” with equal rights of management, reimbursement, etc., under community property law.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
<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>marc holmeslawgroup.com<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 14, 2026 8:47 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Real Property Listserv' <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Married couple as tenants in common<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:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">I've just been advised by an escrow company for a large title insurer that a married couple buying a home must take title as husband and wife and cannot vest title in unequal
shares. I have clients wanting to take as tenants in common with 80-20 split and have pushed back on this. Am I mistaken in my understanding that Washington law allows married persons to take title as tenants in common and as such can take in unequal percentages?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="elementtoproof"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="elementtoproof"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="elementtoproof"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="elementtoproof"><a name="x_x__MailAutoSig"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Marc Holmes, JD<br>
Holmes Law Group PLLC</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:x_x__MailAutoSig"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="elementtoproof"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2303 W. Commodore Way, Suite 306</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="elementtoproof"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Seattle, WA 98199</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
<span style="color:blue"><a href="mailto:marc@holmeslawgroup.com">marc@holmeslawgroup.com</a></span><br>
<span style="color:black">(206) 849-0853</span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="elementtoproof"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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