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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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<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"> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<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' <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><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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