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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">In King County, which is almost the only place I ever file a probate, I file a personal declaration confirming that I have reviewed a death certificate and confirm that it indicates that the
decedent died on such-and-such a date as a resident of X County, but that I am not filing the death certificate for privacy reasons. When the death certificate has not yet been issued, I have done the same kind of declaration confirming that I have some kind
of objective proof of death, such as direct contact with the funeral home holding the body, or documentation confirming cremation, or police report, or something. I have not (yet) had my Declaration rejected as insufficient proof of death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></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>Dalynne Singleton<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 11, 2024 3:28 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Death Certificates<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">Yes, you do have to have some proof of death and a declaration by me, funeral home, or family member works.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Dalynne Singleton</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Gourley Law Group<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><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>michael westseattleattorney.com<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 11, 2024 3:25 PM<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] Death Certificates<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hey Dalynne, unfortunately, the last two probates in the last couple weeks or returned without proof of death. So if you don’t have a death certificate, you need to provide a declaration maybe from the funeral home, notice in the paper—
client selected to wait for the death certificate in both cases. Mike. <span style="font-size:12.0pt">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Jul 11, 2024, at 3:12 PM, Dalynne Singleton <<a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com">dalynne@glgmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">I know for a fact that King County does not require the death certificate and I always redact the SSN when filing a copy of the death cert. in King county.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">I prepare a decl of proof of death when I either don’t have the death certificate or for reasons such as you provide, the family does not want the death cert. filed.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">I use a copy of the obituary, funeral or cremation receipt, or news article and King County has not rejected this as proof of death yet – 20 years+ and counting.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">There is no statute requiring a death certificate. If Island county institutes a new rule, it is their own making and I would ask for the local rule that this is now required.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Dalynne Singleton</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Gourley Law Group</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Snohomish Escrow/The Exchange Connection</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">1002 10<sup>th</sup> Street / PO Box 1091</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Snohomish, WA 98291</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">360.568.5065</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">360.568.8092 fax</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">dalynne@glgmail.com</span></a> <u>Website:
</u><a href="http://www.glglawgroup.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">www.glglawgroup.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Attorney/client meetings will be handled virtually whenever possible. If you would like to set a telephone conference, zoom, or in person
meeting, please call or email one my paralegals Valerie <a href="mailto:valerie@glgmail.com">
<span style="color:#467886">valerie@glgmail.com</span></a>, Cora <a href="mailto:cora@glgmail.com">
<span style="color:#467886">cora@glgmail.com</span></a>, or part time paralegal Theresa
<a href="mailto:theresa@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">theresa@glgmail.com</span></a>. Attorney Spencer Clower & paralegal, Kristin Jacobs, can be reached for Estate litigation (<a href="mailto:spencer@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">spencer@glgmail.com</span></a>
and <a href="mailto:kristin@glgmail.com"><span style="color:#467886">kristin@glgmail.com</span></a>).
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">LICENSED IN WASHINGTON. IMPORTANT/CONFIDENTIAL: This e-mail message (and any attachments accompanying it) may contain confidential information,
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<p class="MsoNormal"><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>Marcus Fry<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 11, 2024 2:59 PM<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] Death Certificates<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would try filing it under seal and see what they say.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><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>Margaret Delp<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 11, 2024 2:53 PM<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] Death Certificates<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">* NOTICE: EXTERNAL EMAIL *</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello Everyone:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have general question about filing death certificates with the court when opening a probate. I have always made a photocopy of the death certificate and redacted the health information, social security number, and date of birth. I keep
a certified copy in my file to show to the clerk or the judge if requested. Occasionally the clerk asks to see it. The judge never has asked or commented on my redacted copy. I know this is not the typical approach, and would not work in King County. Also,
the Simultaneous Death Act, RCW 11.05A.050, provides that a certified death certificate is prima facie evidence to establish the fact of death, date, location. But the statute allows circumstantial evidence to prove death as well, and I thought that with
the statements in the verified Petition and the death certificate copy, perhaps that’s why my approach has worked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today, I was told by the clerk of Island County Superior Court that beginning Sept. 1, the Clerk will be requiring a certified copy of the death certificate to be filed with all probate petitions. I believe this has been required for years
in King County. The Clerk will redact only the Social Security number, presumably to comply with GR 31. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does anyone ever worry about the other identifying information (such as date of birth and mother’s maiden name) or health information contained in a death certificates being part of the public record? HIPAA rules protect private health
information for 50 years after death, but allow the Personal Representative of an Estate to reveal personal health information on behalf of the decedent. But what if the Personal Rep wants that information kept private? I have had cases where the family wanted
to keep the cause of death private, particularly in the case of suicide. In all cases, I believe that health information should be kept private if possible.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know when this topic was previously discussed on this listserve, some attorneys noted they use an Affidavit of Death rather than filing a death certificate. Does that approach work consistently in all counties? Could anyone provide me
an example which worked. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks much,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Margaret<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">--</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Law Office of Margaret Delp</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Mailing Address: PO Box 292, Langley, WA 98260</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">NEW LOCATION:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">5671 Crawford Road, Langley, WA (located just off of Highway 525 and shares a driveway with Unity of Whidbey)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Phone: 360-579-4530</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Fax: 360-512-3114</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.delp-law.com">www.delp-law.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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