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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I think Mr. Nelson’s response is well spoken.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We would not have any problem insuring a purchase by “Jane Smith, a married woman as her separate property as to an undivided 80% interest and John Smith, a married man as his separate property as to an undivided
20% interest.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I would suggest a recital on the deed such as: “Jane Smith and John Smith are married to each other but prefer to take title each as their respective separate property and in unequal percentages.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">John McCrady<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Puget Sound Title Company<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">5350 Orchard Street West<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">University Place WA 98467<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">253-476-5721<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="mailto:j.mccrady@pstitle.com"><span style="color:#467886">j.mccrady@pstitle.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">WARNING-FRAUDULENT FUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Email hacking and fraud are on the rise to fraudulently misdirect funds. Please call your escrow officer immediately using contact information found from
an independent source, such as the sales contract or internet, to verify any funding instructions received. We are not responsible for any wire sent by you to an incorrect bank account.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></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>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p>CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">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></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">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></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<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 <a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fholmeslawgroup.com&c=E,1,6EYhVPxaFqtenazUmHN0zlc0s2B1tt3VQUuoHMgC3C6gjRnBcZ0ZXtzp1mUVp7hm5e2sUlf2of-AEtH4wUTRtXhlH4HEM43fngt4wmqu3cshYJ6_LrE,&typo=1&ancr_add=1">
holmeslawgroup.com</a><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>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;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"><a name="x_x__MailAutoSig"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;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-size:12.0pt;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-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Seattle, WA 98199</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;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>
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