Estate of Ladley CA3

I. BACKGROUND

Carl purchased the South Lake Tahoe property while single in 1977, taking title in his name alone as an unmarried man. Susan purchased real property in Sparks, Nevada in 1980 (the Sparks property), taking title in her name alone as a single woman.4 Susan and Carl married in 1983. Carl maintained title to the South Lake Tahoe property in his name and would continue to do so for the next 17 years.

Another son, Bard Edwin Ladley, predeceased Carl without issue. 2 Sanford appears to have acted as a representative for the interests of Carl’s children. For ease of reference, we shall refer to Sanford’s pleadings and positions as those of “Carl’s children.” Undesignated statutory references are to the Probate Code. 4 The Sparks property was sold in July 2015, and the trial court ordered the proceeds of the sale distributed to Susan’s siblings.

2 Carl executed two deeds on March 24, 2000: a quitclaim deed and a joint tenancy deed. The quitclaim deed was recorded on March 28, 2000, and transferred title from Carl to “Carl Edward Ladley and Susan Rae Ladley, husband and wife.” The joint tenancy deed was recorded the same day and transferred title from Carl to “Carl…