[WSBAPT] Half-Baked Will

[Jane Bitz]

Regarding the lack of notarization:
See RCW 5.50.030
Validity of unsworn declaration—Exceptions.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, if a law of this state requires or permits use of a sworn declaration, an unsworn declaration meeting the requirements of this chapter has the same effect as a sworn declaration.
(2) This chapter does not apply to:
(a) A deposition;
(b) An oath of office;
(c) An oath required to be given before a specified official other than a notary public; or
(d) A declaration to be recorded pursuant to Title 64<http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=64> or 65<http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=65> RCW.

Jane G. Bitz
Of Counsel
WHC Attorneys PLLC
12209 E. Mission Ave, Suite 5
Spokane Valley, WA 99206-4824
(509) 927-9700 x126
FAX: (509) 777-1800

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Bryce Dille
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 2:54 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Half-Baked Will

That is true unless RCW11.12.110 applies which in this case it does not since deceased beneficiary is not issue of grandparent  of the decedent.

Bryce H. Dille
Dille Law, PLLC
2010 Caton Way SW Ste. 101
Olympia, WA 98502
Office: 360-350-0270
Cell: 253-579-5561

** Please note that I use the dictation feature of my iPhone and that sometimes everything I say does not get properly translated**




[R_Alan_Swanson-WH-200]

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Business Entity Creation and Management, Business, Government and Tax Law, Real Estate and Land Use, Residential, Commercial and Condominium Development Real Estate and Commercial Transactions & Closings, Including Performing Services as IRS Section 1031 Exchange Facilitator Estate Planning, including Wills and Trusts, and Probate Administration Representation Homeowners/Condominium Association Real Estate Developments Real Property Foreclosures and Forfeitures.

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>> On Behalf Of Karen E. Boxx
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 2:32 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Half-Baked Will

And even without the survivorship clause, the doctrine of lapse requires a beneficiary to survive in order to take under a will, so he died intestate.

Karen


Professor Karen E. Boxx

University of Washington School of Law

Box 353020

Seattle, WA 98195-3020
206.616.3856
Sent from my iPad

On Dec 21, 2023, at 11:08 AM, Amy Goertz <amyjgoertz at icloud.com<mailto:amyjgoertz at icloud.com>> wrote:

My take on it would be that since the spouse pre-deceased, the survival requirement of twenty days has not been met and thus it sounds like the decedent will be treated as intestate since there is no clause that address the issue of what happens if the spouse does not meet the survival requirement.

The estate passes to decedent’s intestate heirs, not the spouse’s estate.

Amy

Amy J. Goertz, J.D.
Goertz & Lambrecht PLLC
amyjgoertz at icloud.com<mailto:amyjgoertz at icloud.com>

1.888.926.2607 phone
1.877.684.1627 fax
Address for correspondence:
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Spokane, WA 99203

Additional office locations:
510 Bell Street
Edmonds, WA 98020

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On Dec 21, 2023, at 9:23 AM, <Jeff at bellanddavispllc.com<mailto:Jeff at bellanddavispllc.com>> <Jeff at bellanddavispllc.com<mailto:Jeff at bellanddavispllc.com>> wrote:

Listmates:

In front of me is a Will that I am told was prepared by a lawyer (unnamed).  It leaves everything to the spouse, who predeceased the testator.  No reference to what happens if spouse predeceases, although in the general terms it mentions that survivorship is twenty days and gives a general definition of right of representation.  Will is signed.  However the witness attestation provision is this:

We, the undersigned, certify that on this date the Testator, ____, signed the foregoing
Document as and for the Testator’s Last Will and Testament in our presence, and that we,
at the Testator’s request, in the Testator’s presence and in the presence of each other, have
signed our names hereto as subscribing witnesses.

Dated at ________, Washington, this ___ day of _______, 2023.

Nothing is notarized.  First question, I assume the entire estate goes to the predeceased spouses estate.  Am I wrong?  Second,  I believe I can fix the attestation clause by having the witnesses signing a new one that is more complete, provided I can find them in a very large city in Snohomish County.  We do new attestation clauses for lost Wills, is there anything wrong with fixing the old one?

Jeff Davis

W. Jeff Davis
BELL & DAVIS PLLC
Attorneys at Law
P.O. Box 510
720 E. Washington Street, Suite 105
Sequim WA 98382
Phone: (360) 683.1129
Fax: (360) 683.1258
email: jeff at bellanddavispllc.com<mailto:jeff at bellanddavispllc.com>
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