6 Common Ways To Hold Title

1. A Single Man / Woman
A man or woman who is not legally married (i.e. John Doe, a single man).
2. A Married Man / Woman, As His / Her
Sole and Separate Property
When a married man or woman wishes to acquire title in
his or her name alone, the spouse must consent by signing
a quitclaim deed or other similar instrument, thereby relinquishing all rights, title and interest in the property (i.e. John Doe, a married man, as his sole and separate property).
3. Community Property
The Washington Civil Code defines community property as property acquired by husband and wife, or either, during marriage, when not acquired as the separate property of either. Real property conveyed to a married man or woman is presumed to be community property unless otherwise stated. Under community property, both spouses have the right to dispose of one-half of the community property by will, but all of it will go to the surviving spouse without administration,
if the other spouse dies without a will. If a spouse exercises his/her right to dispose of one-half, that half is subject to administration in the estate (i.e. John Doe and Jane Doe, husband and wife, as community property).

4. Joint Tenancy
A joint tenancy estate may be defined as follows: “A joint interest is one owned by two or more persons in equal shares, by a title created by a single will or transfer, when expressly declared in the will or transfer to be a joint tenancy.” A
chief characteristic of joint tenancy property is the right of survivorship. When a joint tenant dies, title to the property immediately vests in the survivor or surviving joint tenants.
As a consequence, joint tenancy property is not subject to disposition by will (i.e. John Doe and Jane Doe, husband and wife, as joint tenants).
5. Tenancy in Common
Under tenancy in common, the co-owners own undivided interests, but unlike joint tenancy, these interests need not
be equal in quantity or duration, and may arise from different times. There is no right of survivorship; each tenant owns an interest which on his or her death vests in his or her heirs or devisees (i.e. John Doe, a single man, as to an undivided 3/4th interest, and George Smith, a single man, as to an undivided 1/4 interest as tenants in common).
6. State Registered Domestic Partnerships
& Same Sex Couples
Washington State allowed same sex couples to enter into Registered Domestic Partnerships beginning in 2007. Subsequent laws expanded the scope of this law. With
the 2012 passage of Referendum 74, all existing domestic partnerships, unless dissolved, will convert to marriages as of June 30, 2014. Any same sex partners who entered this registry will be considered a married couple after that date. The exception to this rule is for Seniors (where one partner is at least 62 years of age) due to possible Social Security concerns. 

Thanks To:

ALAN LEE
First American Title
INT'L DEPT MANAGER
MOBILE 425.221.1997 | OFFICE 425.455.3400
FAX 866.561.3736 | CUSTOM
alanlee@firstam.com ER
SERVICE 206.728.7236
www.firstam.com/title/wa/king