Any alien may acquire and hold lands, or any right thereto, or interest therein, by purchase, devise, or descent; and he or she may convey, mortgage, and devise the same, and if he or she shall die intestate, the same shall descend to his or her heirs, and in all cases such lands shall be held, conveyed, mortgaged, or devised, or shall descend in like manner and with like effect as if such alien were a native citizen of this state or of the United States.

NOTES:

1967 c 163 adopted to implement Amendment 42: “This act is adopted by the legislature to implement amendment 42 to the state Constitution approved by the voters of the state on November 8, 1966. Amendment 42 removed constitutional restrictions against alien ownership of land by repealing Article II, section 33 of the state Constitution, as amended and Amendments 24 and 29.” [ 1967 c 163 § 1.]
Severability1967 c 163: “If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.” [ 1967 c 163 § 9.]
The above two annotations apply to 1967 c 163. For codification of that act, see Codification Tables.

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Terms Used In Washington Code 64.16.005

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.