Wrongful Death Lawsuit Eligibility

Summary

In Washington State, only the personal representative of the deceaseds estate, immediate family members, or legally recognized domestic partners can file a wrongful death lawsuit. As a girlfriend, you may not have the same legal rights. To be recognized as a domestic partner, you must have registered your partnership with the state. Unfortunately, you cannot register a domestic partnership posthumously. Consult a local attorney for more options.

Full Conversation

I live in bellingham wa. My bf of seven yeats who i lived with for five yeats and he was our sole finavisl provider got hit by a car and killed right in fromt of me. My question is can being his gf and not his wife file a wrongful death law suit
Did your boyfriend have any immediate family members like parents or children?
In Washington State, the law generally allows only the personal representative of the deceased's estate or immediate family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
I thought a fomestic partner in wa state was able to file a wrongful death law suit
In Washington State, a domestic partner can file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, you must be legally recognized as a domestic partner. Were you legally recognized as his domestic partner?
How do i get legally recognized? We lived together for five years weve been together for seven
In Washington State, to be legally recognized as domestic partners, you must:
- Both be at least 18 years old
- Not be married or in a domestic partnership with someone else
- Share a common residence
Is there anything else I can help with?
Ok so we lived together for five yeats we were only with eachothet no one else so can i file a wrongful death law suit
Did you register your domestic partnership with the state? In Washington, living together doesn't automatically make you domestic partners. You need to register it.
How do i do that if hes dead!
I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, you can't register a domestic partnership posthumously. You may want to consult with a local attorney for more options.
So theres nothing i can do as his gf
I'm sorry for your situation. As a girlfriend, you may not have the same legal rights as a spouse or registered domestic partner. Is there anything else I can help with?
I just need to know if i can file a wrongful death suit if im a gf in wa state!
In Washington State, only the personal representative of the deceased's estate, immediate family members, or legally recognized domestic partners can file a wrongful death lawsuit. As a girlfriend, you may not have the same legal rights.