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<p class="MsoNormal">I had to do this a couple of years ago and multiple clerks at the counter in the King County Clerk’s office said a court order was needed even though we were presenting the death certificate. It turned into a huge ordeal but eventually
a senior official in the clerk’s office agreed with me that if the testator is deceased, as established by the death certificate, then they have to unseal the file. The official promised to re-educate the clerk’s office staff around this issue. Hopefully the
system is now working as intended.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joyce<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">Law Office of Joyce S. Schwensen<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">Joyce S. Schwensen, PS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">12055 15<sup>th</sup> Ave NE</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:navy"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">Seattle, WA 98125</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:navy">
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">Tel: (206) 367-1065<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">Fax</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">:
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#000099">(206) 899-1674</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy"><br>
</span><a href="mailto:Joyce@SchwensenLaw.com"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">Joyce@SchwensenLaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.schwensenlaw.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">www.SchwensenLaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy">PLEASE NOTE
<u>NEW ADDRESS</u>: <u>12055 15<sup>TH</sup> AVE. NE, SEATTLE, WA 98125</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:black"><br>
</span></i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:black">This communication (including any attachments) is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient or believe that you may have received this communication
in error, please delete this communication from your computer and do not retransmit, copy, print or otherwise disseminate this communication.</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP:<br>
</span></i></b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:black">This e-mail does not in any way intend to provide legal advice to be relied upon by any recipient and does not create any duty or obligation for legal representation on behalf of the sender Joyce S. Schwensen,
PS on behalf of the recipient of this e-mail without a written engagement agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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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>
<h3 style="mso-margin-top-alt:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<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>
<h3 style="mso-margin-top-alt:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<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:2.1458in;height:.6354in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D5802D.32879E50"></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">
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</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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