James and Karen are married and own their primary residence in Bellevue. They want to ensure that if either of them dies, the survivor will receive the deceased spouse's interest in the home without going through probate. Which form of ownership should they choose under Washington law?

Correct Answer

C) Community property with right of survivorship, because it combines community property protections with automatic survivorship outside of probate

Washington recognizes community property with right of survivorship (CPWROS) as a distinct form of ownership. When one spouse dies, the surviving spouse automatically receives the deceased spouse's interest without going through probate, while also retaining the community property tax advantages (full step-up in basis for both halves). This is specifically designed for married couples who want survivorship rights combined with community property benefits.