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<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA</strong><br>
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. <strong> July 10, 2021 <br>
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Jamia,</strong></p>
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<h3><strong>I secured a Certificate of Presumed Death under the old statute RCW 70.58.390 about 4 years ago. This was replaced on January 31, 2021 by RCW 70.58A.200(8).</strong></h3>
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<h3>Under the old statute, the coroner, medical examiner and prosecutor had the authority to do so if they determine there is sufficient circumstantial evidence that the person died in their county or was last seen in their county. The new statute looks roughly the same to me.</h3>
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<h3>I was NOT successful in persuading the King County ME to issue a certificate. I eventually had to seek a declaratory judgment and get an order of the court. My case was partially complicated because the presumed deceased was last seen in a different state (Arizona) and it was believed he died there (last seen trying to cross the Arizona dessert- so pretty likely he died there.) Arizona law (at that time) authorized their coroner to give to their RESIDENTS. But, the deceased was a resident of King County.</h3>
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<h3>So, if your PC lives in Washington and the lake he disappeared from is in Washington, you won’t have the barrier I did (One of the cases I read was litigated because a boat went down during a storm on open water somewhere on the border between Canada and the U.S., no one knew WHERE exactly the boat went down- cuz there was a terrible storm and no one could see … ). </h3>
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<h3>If life insurance is involved, I suspect an insurance company might require a significant hunt and waiting period and an ME or coroner might be hesitant to issue too quickly. But the coroner or ME is where you would start.</h3>
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<p><strong>andrekita<br>
Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva<br>
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2000<br>
Seattle, Washington 98101<br>
206-224-8288<br>
www.seattle-silvalaw.com</strong><br>
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Quoting Sarah Smith <<a href="mailto:sesmith@ballardlawyers.com">sesmith@ballardlawyers.com</a>>:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Review RCW 11.80. That’s the best place to start.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Good luck,</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sarah E. Smith, Esq.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">MULLAVEY, PROUT, GRENLEY & FOE, LLP</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">2401 N.W. SIXTY-FIFTH</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">P.O. Box 70567</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98127</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">(206) 789-2511 ext. 1124</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">FAX: (206) 789-4484</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:sesmith@ballardlawyers.com">sesmith@ballardlawyers.com</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">NOTICE: This is a private and confidential communication for the sole viewing and use of the intended recipient. This communication may contain information, protected by the attorney-client privilege or work product doctrine. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, please immediately notify the sender and delete and destroy all copies of this communication, whether in paper or electronic form. The unauthorized disclosure, distribution, copying, or use of information contained in this communication may violate State and Federal laws, including but not limited to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510 et. Seq. and the Washington Privacy Act, chapter 9.37 RCW.</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> Jamia Burns<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, July 9, 2021 12:40 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Death Certificate - Missing Body</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Has anyone had to request a death certificate when the body is missing? It appears that my potential client's husband, who was very sick and in extreme pain, may have taken his life by walking into a lake and drowning himself (shoes and walking stick found beside the water). Search and Rescue have been unable to find the body after one week. Any guidance would be extremely appreciated. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Respectfully, </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jamia S. Burns<br>
Attorney at Law<br>
(360) 739-6379</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">Office: 1200 Dupont St., Suite 1-D</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">Bellingham, WA 98225 (By Appointment Only)</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:jamia@jamiaburnslaw.com" target="_blank">jamia@jamiaburnslaw.com</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.jamiaburnslaw.com" target="_blank">www.jamiaburnslaw.com</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>NOTICE: This e-mail may contain confidential or privileged material and is intended for use solely by the above-referenced recipient. Any review, copying, printing, disclosure, distribution, or other use by any other person or entity is strictly prohibited. If you are not the named recipient, or believe you have received this e-mail in error, please reply to the sender and delete the copy you received. Thank you.</span></p>
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