Blethen v. Supervisor of the Inheritance Tax Division

— The question in this case is: Can community debts of a deceased husband and surviving wife be charged against the separate property of the decedent before the community property is exhausted? The answer is: they cannot.

L. Kenneth Schoenfeld died testate on March 22, 1954, a resident of King county. There was in the estate community property subject to debts in the amount of $73,-865.48, and separate property of the decedent amounting to $188,510. The community debts totaled $154,992, and the *198funeral expenses $2,334.69. There were separate debts of the decedent in the amount of $9,780.33.

For…