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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>Heather,<div><br></div><div>You may be right. I suppose I overstated the issue -- I can certainly see circumstances in which, as drafter, one would be called as a witness (such as where the issue may relate to <i>why</i> the Will was drafted in a particular manner). I also think, though, that courts are reluctant to disqualify. Assuming the issue is solely one of capacity, if there is a separate & independent witness that could be called without disqualifying the attorney, a court might prefer to go that route. </div><div><br></div><div>Not much, I admit, but enough for me to stick with my procedures. :) </div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#0070C0">Jeffrey D. Winter</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#0070C0">Law Office of Jeffrey D.
Winter, P.S.<br>
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#0070C0">604 North
Main Street</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";
color:#0070C0"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#0070C0">Ellensburg,
WA 98926</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";
color:#0070C0"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#0070C0"><a href="tel:%28509%29%20925-9600" target="_blank" value="+15099259600">(509)
925-9600</a> tel.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";
color:#0070C0"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#0070C0"><a href="tel:%28509%29%20925-9606" target="_blank" value="+15099259606">(509)
925-9606</a> fax</span></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br><br><div><hr id="stopSpelling">From: heatherd@westseattlelaw.com<br>To: wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 00:02:38 +0000<br>Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] << Rules of Thumb as to "THE" 2 Witnesses >><br><br>
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<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;">Jeff,</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;"> </span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;">Do you not think as the drafter you would have at least as much likelihood of a conflict as a witness if there is litigation? I expect that as a drafter, witness
or notary my role as witness would cause a conflict.</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;"> </span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;">Heather</span></p>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;"> </span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><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</span></i></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;"><img width="264" height="147" id="ecx_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D0619D.555B7040" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01D013C2.30F35160"></span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;"></span></i></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;">3909 California Avenue SW</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;">Seattle, WA 98116-3705
</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;">(206)938-5500
</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><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;">
</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;"><a href="http://www.westseattlelaw.com/" target="_blank"><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;">
</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;"> </span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002E8A;">Click here to connect with de Vrieze | Carney on Facebook:
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<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E;"> </span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><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;"></span></p>
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<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;"> </span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in;">
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><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>jeffrey winter<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 18, 2015 4:34 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] << Rules of Thumb as to "THE" 2 Witnesses >></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">I've always been concerned that, by being involved in any way (witness or notary) you will be assumed to have reviewed and advised the testator as to the contents. For that reason, I typically
decline. I will only notarize Wills that I have drafted.</span></p>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">I generally do not act as a witness. If you probate the Will, and there is estate litigation, you might be conflicted out as a witness.</span></p>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">If they don't want want to pay for your consult, it's kinda like bringing a fast food burger to a fancy restaurant and just ordering a soda to go with your meal.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">My thoughts.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;">Jeffrey D. Winter</span></b></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;">Law Office of Jeffrey D. Winter, P.S.<br>
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;">604 North Main Street</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;">Ellensburg, WA 98926</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;"><a target="_blank">(509) 925-9600</a> tel.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0070C0;"><a target="_blank">(509) 925-9606</a> fax</span></p>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">
<hr size="3" width="100%" align="center" id="ecxstopSpelling">
</span></div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:08:54 -0700<br>
From: <a href="mailto:mailboxro@gmail.com">mailboxro@gmail.com</a><br>
To: <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
Subject: [WSBAPT] << Rules of Thumb as to "THE" 2 Witnesses >></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:36.0pt;">Members:</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:24.0pt;">Do any of you use a general rule of thumb on this? If any.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><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></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><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></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:24.0pt;">Your thoughts?</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888;"> </span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
</div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">-- </span></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3333FF;"> </span></b></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="ecxMsoNormal" style=""><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><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"></span></p>
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