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Thanks Josh</div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> on behalf of Joshua McKarcher <josh@mckarcherlaw.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 11, 2022 4:41 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Client signed estate docs for his dying spouse in front of notary but also was second witness</font>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I’m reluctant to reply to this, as I do not wish to sound critical by my questions or observations, but iron sharpens iron and all that. There are many issues to consider
here. </span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Unless I’m misunderstanding, the will isn’t witnessed properly by two witnesses, and I’m unaware of any cure. Even if it is executed, it was not witnessed by two people,
unless I’ve missed for years that spouses can witness one another’s wills.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">And are the notary blocks of the various documents signed by decedent compliant with
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.45.070">https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.45.070</a> by indicating the hospitalized spouse instructed the signing by her husband (“signature affixed by (name of other individual) at the
direction of (name of individual)” or the like)? </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If not, I’m not sure the recorded documents are really going to be considered valid anyhow, once scrutinized by a title examiner, so intestacy may work just fine.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">And, it seems intestacy “gets you there” if she had no surviving descendants or parents or
<u>descendants of parents</u> (i.e., her siblings and any level of nieces/nephews – and it only takes 1 on either parent’s side, see RCW 11.04.015(1)).
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If she had “none of the above,” then her husband is her sole intestate heir anyhow as to all separate and community property, at least for property in Washington. Presumably
same outcome as the will and trust sought to achieve? (If so, maybe “no problem” undoing the spouse’s documents, if needed?)</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">So, I am thinking that if your client is armed with “whatever he has of the trust document” and Letters of Administration in intestacy, then I think he’ll “get there”
one way or another.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">But I also cannot tell if “client had me prepare” means you prepared documents for both spouses at the instruction of only one without speaking or visiting with the hospitalized
one. But if you never spoke with the hospitalized spouse and confirmed her wishes and that knew of no remote great-nieces, etc., then my personal view is that the spouse’s documents, particularly will, trust, and POAs (but probably including deeds to trust
given the invalidity of the trust and nature of the deed as an EP document), are probably invalid. I do not understand it permissible for a lawyer to prepare estate planning documents without the instruction, understanding, discussion, etc. with the testator-client
directly. Spouses can unduly influence spouses – indeed, it would not be that hard to understand why one might. What if the condo is separate and she has a surviving grand-niece about whom husband did not tell the lawyer in my example here?</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">But probably it is more precise to say the documents are “invalid if anyone challenges them.” If nobody does, and nobody is losing out by whatever dispositions these
documents made – e.g., hopefully there are no descendants of her two parents and the condo wasn’t even arguably separate property – then maybe “no harm, no foul.”
</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">But my point in running that analysis is that it may be prove prudent to have the client proceed in a manner that disregards the will, trust, and POAs anyhow – at least
as to his deceased spouse – and simply proceed under intestacy. </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Those are the issues I would highlight if you called me for an analysis on this one.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Good luck! Best, Josh
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>michael westseattleattorney.com<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 11, 2022 3:52 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Client signed estate docs for his dying spouse in front of notary but also was second witness</p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Help!</span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Client had me prepare DPOAs , Pour over Wills, Revocable Trust and Deeds for himself and spouse. Spouse was dying and in hospital but otherwise competent. Client takes docs
to hospital with notary but not a second witness. Spouse has mitts on hands so could not sign but Notary said that client could sign for him and put "with permission" next to signature on all docs. Valid? </span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Will is signed by client beneficiary as directed by spouse and witnessed by notary. </span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span class="x_contentpasted2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Client now says a financial account was found without a beneficiary so need to probate. Will court prove Will or since </span></span><span class="x_contentpasted3"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black; background:white">Decedent
spouse had no other living relatives and client would take do probate via intestate? But what about the recorded deeds? </span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black"></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Deeds to Trust are signed by client as directed by spouse and notarized - deeds are recorded . </span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:black">Client needs to sell spouse's condo due to lack of funds. Will Title Co insure ?
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