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<p class="MsoNormal">That is a terrible circumstance but I don’t think it changes the situation. The VAPO doesn’t prohibit the protected party from contacting the restrained party. And I believe that communications of legal notices by lawyers representing the
individuals are automatically exempt?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unless the prenup has a clause that expressly waives notice of probate proceedings, and/or waives all statutory rights of a surviving spouse, in the event a spouse dies?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know the circumstances of the VAPO, but if there is a possibility of the surviving spouse inheriting something, consider whether the slayer and financial abuser statutes might diminish the spouse’s share. Ch. 11.84 RCW.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b>All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please
direct mail and deliveries to the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></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>Tom Westbrook<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:27 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Lost Will<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks, Eric for your always sound advice. Would it matter if the SS is subject to a VAPO order restraining him from contacting the decent and her family members as well as the business owned by decedent?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Regards, Tom<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<div id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature">
<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone<br>
Get <a href="https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg">Outlook for Android</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">From:</span></b><span style="color:black">
<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>> on behalf of Eric Nelsen <<a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 1, 2022 9:56:14 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Lost Will</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="xmsonormal">I vote yes. RCW 11.20.070 only says notice to “all persons interested” but I think as a due process matter it’s much better for the client to give notice to the spouse; spouse needs the opportunity to exercise whatever rights they may
have that aren’t waived by the prenup. This gets the issues out into the open where they can be dealt with.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Also, I have learned the hard way in a couple of probates that it doesn’t matter that a dissolution action has been filed—the action terminates immediately on death of a party and if the Decree of Dissolution wasn’t entered before death,
then they’re still married and the survivor is still surviving spouse. Unless the prenup waives all statutory rights as surviving spouse, they can still petition to administer community property, are entitled to notice of any other surviving spouse, etc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="xmsonormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="color:black;background:aqua">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b>All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please
direct mail and deliveries to the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="xmsonormal"><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>Tom Westbrook<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 1, 2022 9:33 AM<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] Lost Will<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Is it necessary to give notice to surviving spouse about</span>
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">taking proof</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
for</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">a lost Will when the surviving spouse is not named in the Will and there is a PreNup that clearly states the SS does not take</span>
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">under the Will that was executed prior to the marriage? Also, the decedent had started a dissolution of marriage prior to death.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Tom</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thomas J. Westbrook</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Attorney at Law</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><<...>>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">324 West Bay Drive NW, Suite 201</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">Olympia, WA 98502</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">(360) 866-4000 phone</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">(360) 866--3832 fax</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.buddbaylaw.com/"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">www.buddbaylaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color:red">COVID POLICY:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><i><span style="color:#1F497D">Our firm continues to follow guidance from the CDC and Governor Inslee’s office regarding social distancing and the wearing of face coverings, and we encourage the public and our clients to do the same. Our staff is still
working remotely much of the time so electronic communication by phone and email continues to be encouraged. We appreciate your patience and understanding.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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