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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Listmates:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I know some of you have run into this situation. No matter how many times I tell clients NOT to write on the original Will or Trust, some do. Deceased Trustor left detailed distribution scheme for specific beneficiaries then named 4 charities to receive the remainder. At least twice, Trustor hand wrote, on the original Trust agreement, new specific beneficiaries, changed the amounts some specific beneficiaries would receive, and completely named new charities to take the remainder. Trustor dies. We mailed a copy of the clean trust agreement with the marked up version to everyone. No responses from anyone. I am now petitioning for instructions as to which trust version does the trustee follow. If this was a Will, the court would simply go with the original Will, as the changes were not properly witnessed. However, a trust is not the same and need not be witnessed, nor does the trustee’s signature need to be notarized. The trust itself says the trust can be amended by the trustor providing the trustee with the written changes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have found no case law on this issue. Because the Trustor also crossed out the changes, or at least it appears to have been crossed out, I am inclined to have the court “agree” that the trustee follow the original trust. Have any of you run into this before?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>W. Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>BELL & DAVIS PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Attorneys at Law</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br>P.O. Box 510<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>720 E. Washington Street, Suite 105<br>Sequim WA 98382<br>Phone: (360) 683.1129 <br>Fax: (360) 683.1258 <br>email: </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a><span style='color:black'><br></span></span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue'>www.bellanddavispllc.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><br> <br>The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please e-mail the sender at </span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue'>info@bellanddavispllc.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> or call 360.683.1129.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>