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<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA</strong><br>
<strong>_______________________________________________________ </strong><br>
<br>
May 19, 2022<br>
<br>
Neli,<br>
<br>
I think Judge Halpert’s article spells out the criteria for a valid and enforceable prenup/ post nup pretty well.<br>
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As pointed out by Bo, you only need to show that the unrepresented party had the opportunity to be advised by independent counsel. If you have not already met with the couple, you should right now explain in writing that you can’t represent both due to a conflict of interest. Let them know who you believe to be your client and make sure they agree that is who you represent. Explain that while the unrepresented side only needs to have the opportunity to retain counsel, explain why it is in OP’s best interest ( both party’s best interest actually) to retain independent counsel to review and advise regarding the post nup.<br>
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Make sure there is plenty of time between your initial letter and any draft of the PSA, and with each communication to OP, again explaining that you don’t represent OP and encourage them to secure independent counsel.<br>
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Your PSA should, of course, also include a section for OP to swear that OP was advised to secure independent counsel, and that OP had the opportunity to secure independent counsel and elected not to do so.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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Quoting Boaz Weintraub <<a href="mailto:bw@weintraub-law.com">bw@weintraub-law.com</a>>:</p>
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<div>The opportunity to obtain independent counsel is the minimum requirement under the second prong of the prenup test for procedural fairness. See attached article. </div>
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<div>However, to ensure enforceability, each party should be represented by independent counsel. There's no reason to risk enforceability, or a possible malpractice claim or complaint later, by not insisting the other party obtain independent counsel. </div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px"><b style='font-family:"times new roman",serif'><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;letter-spacing:0.75pt">Boaz "Bo" Weintraub</span></b><span style='font-family:"times new roman",serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial'><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0.75pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> | JD, LL.M. </span></span></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Thu, May 19, 2022 at 10:20 AM G. Geoffrey Gibbs <<a href="mailto:ggibbs@andersonhunterlaw.com">ggibbs@andersonhunterlaw.com</a>> wrote:</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt">My two cents worth – you cannot ethically represent both parties (which you knew). There is not a per se requirement that both parties have legal counsel but the chances of the PreNup being sustained are better if they do. The development of case law in this area has changed significantly since In Re Matson. The current two prong test for upholding (or not) prenuptials should be reviewed and kept in mind.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><span style="font-size:12pt"><u> </u></span></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of</b> Neli Espe, J.D. - Olympic Legal<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 19, 2022 9:57 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Prenuptial Agreement - Separate Counsel Requirement</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>Dear Listmates,</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>I have always drafted Prenuptial Agreements representing one party to the pending marriage with the other party being represented by his/her own counsel. </u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>Now, I have a couple who have lived together for many years and the PNC insists that the other party does not want to engage independent counsel.</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>I cannot find the authority for this requirement. Every way you look at it, ethically and legally (potential challenge), this is the best approach, but is there authority requiring it?</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u><u>Thanks,</u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></u></p>
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<div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11px;">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</span></span></div>
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