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<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not sure about this but suspect that he will not be able to get the Will delivered to him without a Court order. The law requires that wills be filed after death, so delivery of a death certificate could work to move the Will from the
 Will repository to a Will Only filing or to a Probate, but removal would only be likely ordered if it was needed in another jurisdiction, say because the decedent moved to another state.
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<p class="MsoNormal">I have found it challenging to deal with the Will repository, and don’t recommend it to clients as a “safe place” for their Will, unless there are other issues, or no other options.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heather<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Vladimir Script";color:#1F497D">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="189" height="105" style="width:1.9701in;height:1.097in" id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D5802B.71F9E810"></span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">3909 California Avenue SW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">Seattle, WA 98116-3705                         
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">(206)938-5500
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:heatherd@westseattlelaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">heatherd@westseattlelaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.westseattlelaw.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">www.westseattlelaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Nyala;color:#44524E">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002E8A">Click here to connect with de Vrieze | Carney on Facebook:
</span></b><b><span style="color:#1F497D">  </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeVriezeCarney"><b><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="72" height="21" style="width:.7462in;height:.2238in" id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:image002.png@01D5802B.71F9E810" alt="FB Logo"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#A6A6A6"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;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
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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>Candace Wilkerson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 11, 2019 11:36 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Question about RCW 11.12.265<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">Hi Listmates:<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">I am trying to interpret this statute, which appears to contradict itself, because I have a potential client who is trying to retrieve his deceased wife’s will
 from the repository, and may not need to probate the will.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">RCW <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.12.265"><span style="color:#7DAB8A">11.12.265</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></h3>
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<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Filing of original will with court before death of testator.<o:p></o:p></span></i></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><i><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Any person who has custody or control of any original will and who has not received knowledge of the death of the testator may deliver
 the will for filing under seal to any court having jurisdiction. The testator may withdraw the original will so filed upon proper identification. Any other person, including an attorney-in-fact or guardian of the testator, may withdraw the original will so
 filed only upon court order after showing of good cause. Upon request and presentation of a certified copy of the testator's death certificate, the clerk shall unseal the file. This section does not preclude filing a will not under seal and does not alter
 any duty of a person having knowledge of the testator's death to file the will.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><i><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">The statute indicates that only upon a motion and showing of good cause will the original will be withdrawn after the testator’s death.  But then it says the clerk
 shall unseal the file upon presentation of a certified copy of the death certificate.  Does this mean the clerk will take that action only
<u>after </u>receiving the court’s order that the will be withdrawn?  And is such a motion filed with notice to all will beneficiaries (if the person knows the contents of the will) and/or heirs of the deceased, or can it be done ex parte with a certified copy
 of the death certificate?<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">For some reason I’ve never had to deal with this, so any guidance would be appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">Candace Wilkerson<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="206" height="61" style="width:2.1417in;height:.6343in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image007.png@01D5802B.71F35860"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Top Ranked Law Firm for 2015 by Fortune Magazine and American Lawyer Media</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Candace Wilkerson<b>  |</b> Senior Associate</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:red">  </span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848">| 
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Wong Fleming </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">10675 Willows Road NE, Suite 250 
<b>| </b> Redmond, WA 98052</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Phone: 425.869.4040  </span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848">|</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#484848"> 
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Fax: 425.869.4050 <br>
</span><a href="mailto:cwilkerson@wongfleming.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">cwilkerson@wongfleming.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:black">Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Wong Fleming, please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers
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