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In re Estate of Patton
Washington Court of Appeals
494 P.2d 238 (1972)
Facts
Mildred Patton (defendant) and John Patton were married for over 30 years until John’s death. Although Mildred and John did not have children, John had two children, Ronald Patton and Eileen Clark (plaintiffs), from a former marriage. In his will, John devised to Mildred all items held jointly between them such as bank accounts and insurance policies. John devised the remaining items to Ronald and Eileen. A trial court held that stock certificates accumulated during the marriage that were not owned jointly in Mildred’s and Patton’s names belonged to Mildred anyway due to her community-property interest in the certificates. Ronald and Eileen appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Swanson, J.)
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