Washington is one of a few remaining community property states in the country, which means items considered marital property are generally split equally. ing to Washington law, marital (or community) property is that which was acquired by either party during the course of the marriage, with some exceptions.
Your spouse will inherit your half of the community property. If you have separate property (many spouses mix everything together and don't have any separate property) your spouse will inherit all or a portion of it.
025, upon the death of a decedent, a one-half share of the community property shall be confirmed to the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner, and the other one-half share shall be subject to testamentary disposition by the decedent, or shall descend as provided in chapter 11.04 RCW.
For long-term marriages (over 25 years), the court will usually try to put both parties in an equal financial position for either the remainder of their lives or until both parties retire. The idea is that after 25 years, the parties should be recognized as financially equal partners.
Strategies for Keeping the House in a Washington Divorce If the home was purchased by one or both spouses during the marriage, it legally belongs to both of you 50/50 when splitting divorce assets. So, to get the house in the divorce, you will need to buy your spouse out of your interest equity in the house.
How Does the Court Usually Divide Property? A court in Washington State will usually a) award each party his or her own separate property and b) divide the net value of the parties' community property 50/50.
For long-term marriages (over 25 years), the court will usually try to put both parties in an equal financial position for either the remainder of their lives or until both parties retire. The idea is that after 25 years, the parties should be recognized as financially equal partners.
Washington's marital property laws recognize the concept of "community property," in which almost all property acquired during a marriage is presumed to be jointly owned by the spouses and therefore subject to equal division upon divorce.
Community Property With Right Of Survivorship (CPWROS) Only married couples can use this form of title in community property states like California. This is a very popular method for married couples because it really protects spouses in the case of titles.
In Washington, typically all property or assets that belong to a person are called “separate property.” You may carry separate property with you into a marriage, and anything that was yours before will still belong entirely to you afterwards.