[WSBAPT] Original Wills

[Sarah Jael Dion]

I advise my clients as Kokie does, to put the original will in a fireproof box if possible. If that isn't possible, I suggest that they keep it somewhere safe that is not a safe deposit box. I've heard of some people putting original wills in large ziplocks in the freezer, which is, incidentally, a very cold fireproof box. (If you advise a client to do this, also advise them to tell a few key people where it may be found.)

Sarah Dion 
Dion Law PLLC

> On Mar 4, 2016, at 5:29 PM, Kokie Adams <Kokie at adamslawgroupnw.com> wrote:
> 
> My advice for what it is worth:
>  
> Don’t’ keep originals (the Bar discourages this practice anyway) and you don’t want to be responsible for the number of Wills you accumulate over years of practice.
>  
> Suggest clients have fire proof box in home to keep originals - don’t put them in safe deposit box because if there is not an alive person listed on the box (or the key is lost) the Bank will require a separate court order to get in the box.  I once had to spend an entire afternoon at Wells Fargo trying to get into a box even after I presented a court order!
>  
> Hope this helps.
>  
> Kokie Adams
> <image002.jpg>
>  
> Office:  425.774.0444 | Fax: 425.771.2711
> kokie at adamslawgroupnw.com
> www.adamslawgroupnw.com
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Jay DeMers
> Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 3:34 PM
> To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
> Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Original Wills
>  
> I always used a safety deposit box at my bank.  Jay
>  
> On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 4:22 PM, Tom White <thomas.henry.white at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear List:
> 
> I am wondering what the best practice is for original wills.  How many do you ordinarily make and where are they kept?  
> 
> Do you only make one, and if so where do you keep it?  Do you recommend the client keep it or do you deposit it with the court?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> --
> 
> Tom White
> Attorney-At-Law
> Seattle, Washington
> 
> _______________________________________________
> WSBAPT mailing list
> WSBAPT at lists.wsbarppt.com
> http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt
>  
> _______________________________________________
> WSBAPT mailing list
> WSBAPT at lists.wsbarppt.com
> http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbapt/attachments/20160304/a50138e2/attachment.html>