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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I had a very similar case. In my case, the client was also denied SS benefits and did not have a copy of her marriage certificate, and when she tried to get a copy of her marriage certificate from the records
department in California, we learned her records were lost in a fire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">We were able to successfully obtain an Order pursuant to RCW 26.04 that stated that a valid marriage did exist. As Jane mentioned below, we used joint tax returns, cards, letters, pictures, etc. to “prove” their
marriage. I’d be happy to share our petition and my thoughts if you want to email me. In your case, it sounds like you have limited documents, but could you get Declarations from others, or other documents where they reference being married?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">See also In Re Emmans; Estate, 117 Wash. 182, 200 P. 117 (1921).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Jill<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<br />
<font color="Gray"> <font size="3"> <font face="calibri"> <strong> Jill H. Sasser | Attorney at Law </strong>
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<font color="Orange"> <font face="calibri"> <font size="2"> www.landerholm.com <br />
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jane Bitz<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 23, 2019 5:03 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Refugee from 1973, told to produce marriage certificate<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brent:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had a client who was trying to establish her marriage that took place over 60 years before in Boston. Her husband was on his way to serve in WWII. There were a series of events (churches closed, records burned, etc.) that resulted in
her inability to obtain a certified copy of their marriage certificate. We were able to show their wedding album, a newspaper clipping with the date & info about the wedding, documentation of their 50<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary party with cards & letters
(one of which was from their best man with a written recollection of the day of the wedding, he had since passed away) and her wedding band (the date of their wedding and their initials were inscribed inside). All of this evidence was used to show she had
been married for over 60 years to her now deceased husband. It worked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know that your client’s circumstances are quite different, but if they have anniversary cards or if they celebrated and have photos of an Anniversary party (better if it was listed in a newspaper or church bulletin), any deed showing
them as husband and wife, estate planning documents where he stated his name and said “I am married to [client name]”; their children’s birth certificates, even tax return copies “married, filing jointly” etc. All of this would help to substantiate that they
were actually married, even if they don’t have the “official paperwork”. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope this helps.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jane.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jane G. Bitz<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of Counsel<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">12209 E. Mission Ave, Suite 5<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spokane Vallley, WA 99206-4824<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(509) 927-9700 x126<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">FAX: (509) 777-1800<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="267" height="134" style="width:2.7812in;height:1.3958in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D574CB.BC4EC680"></span><span style="color:black"><img width="149" height="129" style="width:1.552in;height:1.3437in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D574CB.BC4EC680"><img width="273" height="96" style="width:2.8437in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D574CB.BC4EC680"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#2F5496">THE CONTENTS OF THIS ELECTRONIC MAIL ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROTECTED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR OTHER APPLICABLE PROTECTION.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#2F5496">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">
wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Brent Williams-Ruth<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 23, 2019 3:03 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Refugee from 1973, told to produce marriage certificate<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Good Afternoon List - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I have a client who came to the United States as a refugee on October 31, 1973. They were a married couple from Laos. Husband recently passed and so surviving spouse went to social security
for her survivors benefits. They want her to produce a marriage certificate proving they were married. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Sadly, all she has is a photo of the two of them showing 1/2 and 2/2 with the same entry number (which apparently is how the United Nations established marital couples back then). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Any advice on how I can assist with this?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><b>Brent Williams-Ruth</b> <br>
<i>Attorney-At-Law</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b>Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </b><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span>(425) 830-5134<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Direct Mobile: (206) 889-7919<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> / <a href="http://www.Williams-RuthLaw.com/" target="_blank">website</a> /<span style="font-size:9.5pt"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bwrconsults" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">facebook</span></a><span style="font-size:9.5pt"> / </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;color:red;background:white">As of July 1, 2019 - I began operating as the Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC. Please note the new points of contact
<a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com">Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com</a> and <a href="http://www.Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank">
www.Williams-RuthLaw.com</a> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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