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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Mark,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A diagnosis, by itself, is not enough to show she lacks testamentary capacity. Alzheimer’s usually has a spectrum of capacity mild to severe. There is a test (I believe called the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination or MMSE) which
rates the severity of dementia on a 30 point scale. It is commonly used by doctors. In my experience 25-30 is mild, 15-25 is moderate, and below 15 is severe. If the client can answer the questions related to evaluating testamentary capacity, and has a
score roughly 20-30 on the scale, then I usually proceed with the estate plan. If you really have concerns, you can ask the client to come back with a letter from the doctor that she still has capacity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One thing to look out for, usually dementia is not officially diagnosed until it is moderate stage. Family dynamics and individual ability to recognize their limitations plays a huge role. My best advice is to talk to her and evaluate
her yourself (without family present) and decide what course of action you feel comfortable with.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Brian MacKenzie</span></i></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Attorney-at-Law</span></i></b><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
<b><i>________________________________________</i></b><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Gunn MacKenzie, PLLC</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">10000 NE 7<sup>th</sup> Ave, Suite 370</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Vancouver, Washington 98685</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Phone: 360-949-7480 | Fax: 360-326-1603</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Email:
<a href="mailto:bmackenzie@gunn-law.com"><span style="color:blue">bmackenzie@gunn-law.com</span></a>| Web:
<a href="http://www.gunn-law.com/"><span style="color:blue">www.gunn-law.com</span></a></span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><i><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><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"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark Anderson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 23, 2024 4:33 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Competency to Execute Will<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Dear All:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Surviving spouse has wanted to change her Will since her husband's death but has not gotten around to it because she is still grieving the loss. She was just recently
diagnosed as having Alzheimer's dementia, affecting her cognition and memory. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Is a diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia, without more, conclusive evidence that she is incompetent to change her Will? Can anything be done to prove (and document)
otherwise?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Thanks in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Mark B. Anderson<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">ANDERSON LAW FIRM PLLC<br>
821 Dock St Ste 209 PMB 4-12<br>
Tacoma, Washington 98402<br>
+1 253-327-1750<br>
+1 253-327-1751 (fax)<br>
<a href="mailto:marka@mbaesq.com"><span style="color:#002060">marka@mbaesq.com</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.mbaesq.com/"><span style="color:#002060">www.mbaesq.com</span></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:#002060">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:#002060">This transmission is confidential and is intended solely for the use of the individual named recipient. It may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, work
product doctrine, or other confidentiality protection. If you are not the intended recipient, or the person responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, be advised that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is prohibited.
If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the sender via e-mail or by telephone at (253) 327-1750 that you have received the message in error, and then delete it. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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