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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">On March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-25 Stay Home – Stay Healthy Order rendering in-person signings of estate planning documents a profound and often prohibitive
safety issue, especially for older adults. <span style="color:#1C1E21">We believe it is up to the legal community to help in this time of crisis and
<u>current</u> Washington law may authorize a solution that would enable community members to remain safely at home while we address their urgent estate planning needs.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.5pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21">Here is a link to our call for action:
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="http://tiny.cc/kd0ulz"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://tiny.cc/kd0ulz</span></a>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21">(This is an update, cleaner version of the message Christie Martin shared.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.5pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white">Brief summary:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white">RCW 11.12.020 (Requisites of wills—Foreign wills) provides that a person other than, and in lieu of, the testator may sign testator’s will so long as that person acts:
(1) “under testator’s direction” and (2) “in the testator’s presence.” RCW 11.12.020(1). For the reasons set forth at this link (</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="http://tiny.cc/kd0ulz"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://tiny.cc/kd0ulz</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white">)
we believe this statute and related authorities permit a testator via *video-conference* to direct her lawyer and witnesses to sign and attest her will. Specifically, with the right procedural safeguards, video-conferencing satisfies the “in testator’s presence”
requirement of RCW 11.12.020. Though it would make a case of first impression and is the product of exigent circumstances, practically speaking we believe this is the best solution for the present crisis and strongly encourage its adoption. Through this third-party
will signing approach, vulnerable community members can remain safely at home while we address their urgent estate planning needs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white">We would be grateful for feedback and support spreading the message.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white">NB:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white"> Yesterday Gov. Inslee issued Proclamation 20-27, Electronic
Notary Effective Date. </span><span style="color:black"> “</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white">The result of this proclamation is that the delayed effective date in Laws of 2019, ch. 154, § 10(codified
as a note following RCW 42.45.280), is removed and SB 5641, An Act relating to electronic notarial acts by remotely located individuals,
<u>will take effect immediately, until expiration of this Order</u>. </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/20-27%20-%20COVID-19%20Notary%20%28tmp%29.pdf">https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/20-27%20-%20COVID-19%20Notary%20%28tmp%29.pdf</a>
(emphasis added)</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.5pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1C1E21;background:white">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Scott Schill<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Scott Schill<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">425.559.7046 (Direct)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">425.429.3581 (Office)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">11711 SE 8<sup>th</sup> St., Ste. 205<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif">Bellevue, WA 98005<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><img border="0" width="204" height="113" style="width:2.125in;height:1.175in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D60274.23634AE0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">NOTE: This email transmission is intended only for the addressee shown above. It may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise
protected from disclosure. Any review, dissemination, or use of this transmissionor its contents by persons other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and/or
reply email to </span><a href="mailto:thefirm@eldercounselor.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">thefirm@eldercounselor.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> and delete the original
from your files. Thank you.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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