<div dir="ltr"><div>Tom,</div><div><br></div><div>As long as the power of attorney document grants powers with respect to real estate, then I believe the attorney in fact can execute them. And actually, if the Lack of Completed Probate Affidavit is the form being executed for the benefit of the title company, it can be completed and acknowledged by anyone familiar with the facts of the decedent and his or her estate, not just a surviving spouse. Practically (putting my title officer hat on), I prefer for the person filling it out to be related to the decedent or have an interest in the property, but it doesn't necessarily have to be as long as I'm convinced that the person has all of the info I need and is willing to agree to the indemnification clause. The LOPA is a risk assessment tool, not a means to convey the property.</div><div><br></div><div><br><div>Jennifer</div><div><br></div><div>Jennifer Johnson</div><div>Attorney | Title Officer</div><div>Wahkiakum Title & Escrow Company</div><div>Hanigan Law Office, PS</div><div>Cathlamet, WA 98612</div><div>(360) 795-3741</div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Jul 13, 2018 at 7:30 AM, Tom Westbrook <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:tjw@w3net.net" target="_blank">tjw@w3net.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Jennifer,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">When the Surviving Spouse is incapacitated as in this case, can the AIF sign the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse and Lack of Probate Affidavit?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Sincerely,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Tom</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Thomas J. Westbrook</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Attorney at Law</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><img style="width:3.1666in;height:1.0972in" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D41A7B.6CA1F540" alt="whiteRKCS_newlogo50_email_sig" width="304" height="105"></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Rodgers, Kee & Card, P.S.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">324 West Bay Drive NW, Suite 201</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Olympia, Washington 98502</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Phone: 360-352-8311</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Facsimile: 360-352-8501</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Email: </span><span style="color:#1f497d"><a href="mailto:tjw@buddbaylaw.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563c1">tjw@buddbaylaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Skype: thomas.westbrook</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.buddbaylaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563c1">www.buddbaylaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">The information contained in this email and attachment(s) are for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain private, privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the addressee, you are strictly prohibited from reading, photocopying, distributing or otherwise using this email or its contents in any way. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone at 360-352-8311 or by e-mail to </span><span style="color:#1f497d"><a href="mailto:shannon@buddbaylaw.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563c1">shannon@buddbaylaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">, and destroy the original message from your electronic files.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",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="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.<wbr>com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.<wbr>wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jennifer Johnson<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 12, 2018 9:41 PM<span class=""><br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br></span><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Most efficient solution? (Intestacy, real estate, incapacity and more good stuff)</p></div></div><div><div class="h5"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">You can record an Affidavit of Surviving Spouse along with a death certificate and a REET in order to effect the transfer by community property law and claim the inheritance exemption for excise tax purposes. If there is any question as to whether it is community property, or if you just want to make sure you’re totally covered, you can also have all of the heirs, along with the attorney in fact for mom, execute a deed to mom.</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">You can check with your local title company to see if they are going to require their own Lack of Completed Probate Affidavit to be completed (they usually do) and if they are going to be inclined to assess an additional premium to cover their risk. </p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Jennifer</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Jennifer Johnson</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Attorney | Title Officer</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Wahkiakum Title & Escrow Company</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Hanigan Law Office, PS</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Cathlamet, WA 98612</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">(360) 795-3741</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Jul 12, 2018, at 7:25 PM, Sarah Jael Dion <<a href="mailto:sarah@dionlaw.com" target="_blank">sarah@dionlaw.com</a>> wrote:</p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Hi all!</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I would be very grateful for any advice on this one…I’m torn about how to handle this efficiently. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I have a client who just lost her dad. Dad was married to mom. Mom and Dad had four adult children. All siblings are thrilled that my client is willing to manage the legal fallout from Dad’s death.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Client’s mother has dementia, and is incapacitated. My client is her POA. The mother lives in a care facility. The POA is not great- it wasn’t drafted by an attorney, but it’s done the job so far. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Mom and Dad had a house, which is community property. This house now needs to be sold to pay for Mom's ongoing care. The house is the only probate asset. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Client believes Dad had a will, but no one can find it. There has been a considerable amount of searching and Client has abandoned the search. </p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Should we: </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">(1) try to sell the house using an Affidavit of Lack of Probate, with my client as her mom’s POA; </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">(2) open an intestate administration and have a GAL appointed for the mom; or </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">(3) seek to have my client appointed guardian of her mom and then attempt to use an Affidavit of Lack of Probate? </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Something else?</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Sarah Jael Dion<br><br>Dion Law PLLC<span> <wbr> <wbr> </span><br>206-550-4005<br><a href="mailto:sarah@dionlaw.com" target="_blank">sarah@dionlaw.com</a><br><a href="http://www.dionlaw.com" target="_blank">www.dionlaw.com</a><br><br>This message is private or privileged. If you are not the person for whom this message is intended, please notify me immediately and delete the message. Please do not copy or send this message to anyone else. <br><br><br><br></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal">______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>WSBAPT mailing list<br><a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/<wbr>mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a></p></div></blockquote></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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