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</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'>I almost always act as the Notary on the Wills that I prepare for my clients. I have acted as a witness if the client is unable to come to my office. In that case, my assistant and I go to the client and witness his or her signature, then return to the office and sign a separate self-proving affidavit, notarized by another person in our office. <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 was called by some neighbors/friends once because they had some paperwork they wanted notarized and I went to their home and found that the “paperwork” was DPOAs and Wills that they had created using online software. I went ahead with the notarization, but sent out a letter stating that I had not reviewed the Wills or DPOAs, did not know the contents of the documents and by notarizing, I simply confirmed their identities and signatures and those of the witnesses. I have regretted that one ever since, except they have the easiest estate plan ever, lifelong marriage with one kid.<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'>Jane Bitz.<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><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Heather deVrieze<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 18, 2015 4:35 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] << Rules of Thumb as to "THE" 2 Witnesses >><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I generally sign as one of the witnesses on Wills I prepare.<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 almost never notarize or witness wills (or allow my staff to) if I did not prepare them. That said, I had a woman come to my office in the last month needing such a service because she was in Seattle for the time being, though domiciled in another state and her attorney in the other state had prepared documents and sent them here for signing because it was important to get them executed right away. I helped her and obtained a waiver from her acknowledging that while my firm was providing this service I did not know what the documents said or whether or not they were sufficient because I was only verifying her identity and serving as witness/notary for her.<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: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_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D0619B.D2A861E0" 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:image002.png@01D0619B.D2A861E0" 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"'> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Victor R<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 18, 2015 4:09 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] << Rules of Thumb as to "THE" 2 Witnesses >><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:36.0pt'>Members:</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>Do any of you use a general rule of thumb on this? If any.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>That is, do any of you have a rule AS THE ATTORNEY or AS "AN" ATTORNEY, <b><i><span style='background:fuchsia'>not </span></i></b>to sign as a witness? or in the alternative <b><i><span style='background:yellow'>"to do so" </span></i></b>and sign as the attorney?</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>DIFFERENT SCENARIO</span></u></b><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>: What if someone simply walks through your door: "Sir/Madam - I've got a will, and I just need a Notary and some witnesses to sign this"....... </span><span style='font-size:36.0pt'>My take: I'd be a bit hesitant, unless I 'knew' WHAT the will contained, if I or any of my Notary staff were to sign as witnesses.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>Your thoughts?</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#888888'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#3333FF'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif"'>Victor Ro, Esq.<br>THE RO FIRM, P.S.C.<br>A Professional Services Corporation<br>5400 Carillon Point<br>Bldg. 5000, 4th Floor<br>Kirkland, WA 98033<br>Tel: (206) 319-7072<br>Fax: (206) 319-4470</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>This communication is CONFIDENTIAL - ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT - PRIVILEGED. You are responsible for any damages arising in any way from its use. Do not construe this correspondence or contents, thereof, as legal advice or as an engagement between an attorney and client. If you received this communication in error, delete it immediately and permanently from all existing files. NOTICE and PROHIBITION: Do not copy, transmit, retransmit, distribute, or disclose this information contained, herein.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>