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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I haven’t seen one in a long time; but there once was an instrument called a joint will, where both or all testators were bound not to change the will when one or more signers died.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Roger Hawkes, WSBA # 5173<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">19909 Ballinger Way NE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Shoreline, WA 98155<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.hawkeslawfirm.com"><span style="color:blue">www.hawkeslawfirm.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">206 367 5000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Fax is 206 367 4005<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<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""> Jim Doran [mailto:jim@doranlegal.com]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 21, 2015 9:31 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Blended Families & Wills<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Is a contract between the husband and wife in a blended family situation the best way to deal with the estate plan? In particular, how do we bind the survivor to NOT change his or her Will after the first
of the spouses dies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I think I have heard about some sort of contract between the husband and wife that would give the children, as the beneficiaries of the contract, the right to enforce the terms of the contract so that the
survivor doesn’t simply change his or her Will and cut out the other children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">What is that contract and are there better ways to deal with this blended family situation?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">If you can point me to the right source I will follow the lead.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">James R. Doran<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">100 E. Pine Street – Suite 205<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Bellingham, WA 98225<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">(360)393-9506<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="mailto:jim@doranlegal.com">jim@doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="http://www.doranlegal.com">www.doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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