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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I routinely act as witness on Wills drafted by someone else in my office. I routinely act as Notary on self-proving affidavits, even on Wills that I
<i>have</i> drafted. I ignore my status as attorney because I'm not functioning as an attorney in that instance. On the one occasion where there was a Will contest on a Will I had witnessed and drafted by another attorney in my office, we referred the case
out to different counsel so I could act as a fact witness. I think it wouldn't have been an issue because the claim was not related to irregularity in execution, but better safe than sorry; no need to get embroiled in even a potential witness/attorney conflict.<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've never had someone walk in to request witness/notary services on a Will, but offhand I wouldn't necessarily decline. It's the same drill as with any Will;
I'd want to be sure that the Testator/rix was competent, not under influence, etc.. I probably would decline to witness where I had even the slightest doubt on those issues, since I haven't had the same level of interaction with a walk-in that I do with a
client.<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">Personally, I don't care what the Will actually says, so long as the Testator/rix affirms that s/he has read it, understands it, declares it to be her/his will,
and signs it. If I'm reasonably sure they are competent and signing voluntarily, it's their business what they do with their assets. I'm just witnessing, not advising. (Need to make that absolutely clear too, come to think of it--maybe have the person sign
a separate acknowledgment for my file confirming that we're not acting as lawyers, just witnesses?)<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">But if I'm witnessing it, I'd get a copy and file it away, so if there's ever any question about what I witnessed, I'd have an exact copy of the Will as witnessed.<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'd also charge for my time, if I'm going to be bothered by a non-client for witnessing.<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-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<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: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"><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>Victor R<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 18, 2015 4:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:36.0pt">Members:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:24.0pt">Your thoughts?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#3333FF"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<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>
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<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>
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