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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><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Listmates:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>This is more of a ethical question, but wanted to see how you have dealt with this situation in the past. Client comes in for estate planning. I only meet with him which is my practice. After sending drafts, client insists I talk to with step-child for his input on what is to be done. I do not meet him to discuss how client’s estate planning is to be set up, but do meet him to explain why I do not let anyone other then the client tell me how they want their estate set up. Now client insist I talk with step-child and answer his questions he as about the EP, or client won’t sign. Also, I receive edits to my drafts that are suspect. Client has children, and other step-children. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>To me this reeks of undue influence. I could see the children challenging the EP document. If I suspect undue influence don’t I have an ethical duty to just walk away? I was already compelled to testify at a trial that challenged a second Will, done after the one I had done; I really don’t want to go through that again. Better to give back the retainer and cut the losses. What have you done when faced with this?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;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='font-size:11.0pt;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='font-size:11.0pt;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='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>