[WSBAPT] attorneys are officers of the court--therefore essential

Fri Mar 27 12:55:03 PDT 2020

We have been conducting will signings and poa notarizations and medical directives, etc. for clients all week, in our conference room. We take all precautions we can, with clients at one end of 8ft table and witnesses spread out at the other end, with gloves and masks, and only have the witnesses in the room for the moments of signing. Also, lots of cleaning, and either client brings their own pen, or takes our pen home with them when they are done. 😊

I too believe this is essential.

Heather

Heather S. de Vrieze
Attorney-at-Law
[cid:image003.jpg at 01D60436.EE378790]
3909 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116-3705
(206)938-5500
heatherd at westseattlelaw.com<mailto:heatherd at westseattlelaw.com>
www.westseattlelaw.com<http://www.westseattlelaw.com/>
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*****Our office is working to do our part to deal with the COVID-19 situation that is impacting us all.
In particular, we are taking steps to keep the higher traffic areas clean and regularly sanitizing all doorknobs and light switches.
We are limiting the number of in person client appointments per day, trying to keep appointments as short as possible, with preliminary or follow-up discussions by telephone or email. I am also sanitizing client space in my office after each appointment.
Client appointments that can be handled by telephone should be scheduled as such.
If I am sick, I will reschedule, I ask you to do the same.*****

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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Thomas Fiscus
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 12:40 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] attorneys are officers of the court--therefore essential

Hi Susan -

I have been conducting Will signings on my porch in very much the manner you outlined.  Given the enhanced risk to those 60 and above, I have taken the same position as you, that as officers of the Court, we are essential workers and the need to provide these particular services to clients is critical.

Good luck
Tom

Law Office of Thomas J. Fiscus
Box 1167
Eastsound, WA 98245
Ph 360-376-3988
WSBA # 44741

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On Friday, March 27, 2020, 12:10:43 PM PDT, Susan Donahue <sdonahue at sdonahuelaw.com<mailto:sdonahue at sdonahuelaw.com>> wrote:

Hello everyone,

I have someone who wants to execute his will.  So, I’m faced with the actual situation now.  On page 10 of the list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers’ issued by Governor Inslee on March 23, 2020, “The Courts, consistent with direction from the Washington State Chief Justice” are listed as part of the “essential workforce”.  As an attorney, I am an officer of the court, therefore, I argue, I can conduct a will signing if the participants always stay 6’ away from one another by approaching a table outside on my office’s porch one at a time to sign, with the table wiped down and the pen wiped down, etc.

Has anyone figured out a way to conduct will signings under these conditions?  Is my argument too novel?  If I did this, could I be in violation of the governor’s order?

I know this has been discussed but in previous threads the issue of notarizing was the issue—not the issue of witnessing a will.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thank you.

Susan Donahue

Law Office of Susan Donahue

125 West 2nd Avenue, Suite “B”

P.O. Box 81

Twisp, WA 98856

(509) 996-5944 (phone)

(509) 362-9692 (fax)

sdonahue at sdonahuelaw.com<mailto:sdonahue at sdonahuelaw.com>

www.sdonahuelaw.com<http://www.sdonahuelaw.com>

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