Question

Facts for Questions 23 – 27.
Keith and Estelle have been married for twenty years, living in Seattle. They have one child, Jin, age eighteen. Keith owned a house prior to their marriage, that was completely paid off before they got married – this is where Keith and Estelle and Jin have all lived together since the marriage. Keith also owned a rental house, also paid off before they got married. The rental income is deposited into a KeyBank account that Keith owned before marriage, that provides Keith with enough income to pay all the expenses for the rental property, and all the expenses for the home they live in.   Keith never changed the titles to the houses when he and Estelle got married. Keith and Estelle are both working, and they deposit their wages into a Joint Tenancy (JTWROS) bank account with Umpqua Bank, from which they buy their groceries, bought two cars, pay for car expenses and vacations, and pay for medical insurance. The Umpqua Bank account currently has about $100,000 in it. Neither Keith nor Estelle have written a Will. From their Umpqua Bank account, they pay for a joint life-insurance policy that will pay the survivor $300,000 upon the death of either husband or wife. Keith had a heart attack over the weekend, and died. Estelle is worried about her financial situation – she has come to you to find out what property she will receive from Keith’s estate. What do you tell her, based on the State of Washington “intestate” law? (a copy is in “FILES – Course Files” on the Canvas website for the class)

23. The rental house was Keith’s Separate Property, so the ownership of that will be divided between Estelle and Jin (one-half each). True/False

24. The”family home” is Community Property, because that is the house they lived in while married, so Estelle will get 100% title to that. True/False

25. Jin and Estelle will have a 50% ownership of the $100,000 Umpqua Bank account. True/False

26. Estelle will receive all of the $300,000 life-insurance policy proceeds. True/False

27. Since there are two cars, Estelle is entitled to one, and Jin is entitled to the other. True/False

Answer 1

23.

The answer is ‘True’. As per State of Washington “intestate” law the surviving spouse takes one-half of the decedent’s separate property, if the decedent had surviving children or their descendants.

24.

The answer is ‘True’. As per State of Washington “intestate” law If a spouse survives, that spouse gets all community property of the marital community.

25.

The answer is ‘True’. As per State of Washington “intestate” law the surviving spouse takes one-half of the decedent’s separate property, if the decedent had surviving children or their descendants.

26.

The answer is ‘True’. As mentioned in the case from their Umpqua Bank account, they both had paid for a joint life-insurance policy that will pay the survivor (Estelle) $300,000 upon the death of either husband or wife

27.

The answer is ‘True’. As per State of Washington “intestate” law the surviving spouse takes one-half of the decedent’s separate property, if the decedent had surviving children or their descendants.