<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Garamond;
panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Vladimir Script";
panose-1:3 5 4 2 4 4 7 7 3 5;}
@font-face
{font-family:Nyala;
panose-1:2 0 5 4 7 3 0 2 0 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">If all heirs and devisees agree that the copy is a true and correct copy of the authentic unrevoked Will, I don’t think you need much more. If you don’t have
that, you need to go a lot farther.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Ideally you can get the original witnesses to attest to the authenticity of the copy of the Will. I’m not sure it is required by the statute, but I have always
had at least one witness, or in one case the wife of a deceased witness attest to the process and the authenticity of the copy. e.g. “I recognize the signature of the witness on the copy of the Will and Affidavit appended to it to be mine, I also recognize
the signature of the other witness, who was my secretary/partner/paralegal to and it was our office procedure to always confirm the identity of the testator and sign immediately after him both on the Will and the self-proving affidavit.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">I usually produce another signed (notarized if possible) original document signed by the testator, like a Power of Attorney or bank signature card.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Finally, any disinterested witness who can attest to the authenticity and unrevoked status of the document are of additional benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Early in my career I was sent away by the commissioner to do more than what seemed like enough to me. I have learned that in this area, more is better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Vladimir Script";color:#1F497D">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="264" height="147" id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D04C4C.C65FB190" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01D013C2.30F35160"></span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">3909 California Avenue SW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">Seattle, WA 98116-3705
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">(206)938-5500
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:heatherd@westseattlelaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">heatherd@westseattlelaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.westseattlelaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">www.westseattlelaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002E8A">Click here to connect with de Vrieze | Carney on Facebook:
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVriezeCarney"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="100" height="30" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01D04C4C.BAA5FC10" alt="FB Logo"></span></b></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#A6A6A6">CONFIDENTIAL & PRIVILEGED. This e-mail message may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately and delete all copies of this e-mail message and any attachment.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:blue"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jeremy Yates<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 19, 2015 1:28 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Proof of Lost Will<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt">I've been combing the archives, reading various helpful emails betwen members of this list, and trying to understand how to use 11.20.070 and am stuck on the following point:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt">I have in my possession a photocopy of a Last Will, complete with signatures and a signed affidavit of witnesses. Does this photocopy of the signed affidavit of witnesses qualify as
the proof that "must be reduced to writing and signed by any witnesses who have testified as to the execution and validity" from 11.20.070 (1)? Or, must I go out and find the persons who witnessed the Will to have them provide the same Affidavit information
in a new and Original form?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt">It seems like I should be able to use the signed Affidavit photocopy, plus a Declaration that the Will was not revoked, plus a Declaration from almost anyone who has seen even a copy
of the Will waived in front of their nose by the Testator (of which I can obtain several), and that should be enough.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt">Am I missing something?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto">Gratefully,<br>
<br>
Jeremy Yates<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="368" style="width:197.8pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0" width="196" style="width:105.3pt">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0" width="129" style="width:69.3pt">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
<td rowspan="2" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0" width="8" style="width:4.3pt">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>