<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">When I started this practice area in 2015 and was gifted the base templates for NIP probate by a colleague, that I then went and read each statute and cross-checked everything (lots of extra time in those early years before anyone knew who I was) - I drew the same conclusion that Eric made. Where I have under penalty of perjury or notarized was only when the statute set forth those requirements. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">As a member of the team who helped the AGO with the Probate for Profit changes last year, they specifically were concerned about the PETITION being signed and sworn by the petitioner but never even looked at the declaration of completion for any revision or adjustment.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">The thoughts may be that by the time you are at the Declaration of Completion, if there is going to be an objection raised it isn't going to be over that document but the work that was done leading up to that point. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">For what it's worth, when I was teaching myself these steps of an NIP probate this document was a statement that probate was over, not that this was a Declaration of the PR in support of the notion that probate was completed. </div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brent
Williams-Ruth</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> (pronouns: he/him)<br>
<i>Attorney-At-Law</i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law
Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font size="1">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</font></span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal
Way, WA 98003</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font color="#ff0000">Mailing Address:</font> </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling
Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><font color="#ff0000">(253) 285-7751</font></span></p><p><font color="#ff0000" face="Times New Roman, serif">For All Meetings & Scheduling: <a href="mailto:info@williams-ruthlaw.com" target="_blank">info@williams-ruthlaw.com</a></font></p><p>
</p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> / <a href="http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/" target="_blank">website</a> /</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">facebook</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Sep 23, 2026 at 12:18 PM Eric Nelsen <<a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-3902196426401135721">
<div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="m_-3902196426401135721WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">It’s an interesting question, I’m glad it was raised!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Our office’s practice has always been a declaration under penalty of perjury and I’ve never questioned it. But as Mark points out, the word “declaration” as
used in the statute doesn’t state “under penalty of perjury” and doesn’t state anything about affidavit under oath. It’s an anomalous use of the term “declaration.” Rules of statutory construction would arguably indicate that the court shouldn’t add “under
penalty of perjury” to the statute when the legislature clearly specifies that in other statutes and knows how to do that, but didn’t here.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">I may re-think my blanket use of under penalty of perjury for Declarations of Completion.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<div><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1417+31st+Ave+South+%0D%0A+Seattle+WA+98144-3909?entry=gmail&source=g">
</a><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Eric<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Eric C. Nelsen<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1417+31st+Ave+South+%0D%0A+Seattle+WA+98144-3909?entry=gmail&source=g">1417 31st Ave South</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1417+31st+Ave+South+%0D%0A+Seattle+WA+98144-3909?entry=gmail&source=g">Seattle WA 98144-3909</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><a href="tel:(206)%20625-0092" value="+12066250092" target="_blank">206-625-0092</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(225,225,225) currentcolor currentcolor;padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext"> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>
<<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark Anderson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 23, 2026 11:55 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Declaration of Completion<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Thanks to all who have responded. It sounds like this falls in the categories of "better safe than sorry" and "belt and suspenders approach." In other words, include the penalty of perjury language or have
the document notarized to include language to the effect of "Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this date ….” c<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Mark B. Anderson<br>
</span></b><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">ANDERSON LAW FIRM PLLC<br>
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/821+Dock+Street,+Suite+209?entry=gmail&source=g">821 Dock Street, Suite 209</a>, PMB 4-12<br>
Tacoma, Washington 98402<br>
<a href="tel:(253)%20327-1750" value="+12533271750" target="_blank">+1 253-327-1750</a><br>
<a href="tel:(253)%20327-1751" value="+12533271751" target="_blank">+1 253-327-1751</a> (fax)<br>
<a href="mailto:marka@mbaesq.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">marka@mbaesq.com</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.mbaesq.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">www.mbaesq.com</span></a><b><u></u><u></u></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext">
<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Heather de Vrieze<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 23, 2026 11:09 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Declaration of Completion<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">I don’t know whether it is required, but I have always either notarized these or included the under penalty of perjury language.<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/3909+California+Avenue+SW+%0D%0A+Seattle,+WA+98116-3705?entry=gmail&source=g">
</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Heather<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:rgb(31,73,125)">Heather S. de Vrieze</span><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">(she/her)<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Attorney-at-Law</span></i><i><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
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<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-family:Nyala;color:rgb(68,82,78)"><a href="tel:(206)%20938-5500" value="+12069385500" target="_blank">(206)938-5500</a>
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext">
<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark Anderson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 23, 2026 10:34 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Declaration of Completion<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Dear All:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Please remind me, is a Declaration of Completion under RCW 11.68.110 required to be signed under penalty of perjury? RCW 11.68.110 does not address this.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Thanks.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Mark B. Anderson<br>
</span></b><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">ANDERSON LAW FIRM PLLC<br>
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/821+Dock+Street,+Suite+209?entry=gmail&source=g">821 Dock Street, Suite 209</a>, PMB 4-12<br>
Tacoma, Washington 98402<br>
<a href="tel:(253)%20327-1750" value="+12533271750" target="_blank">+1 253-327-1750</a><br>
<a href="tel:(253)%20327-1751" value="+12533271751" target="_blank">+1 253-327-1751</a> (fax)<br>
<a href="mailto:marka@mbaesq.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">marka@mbaesq.com</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.mbaesq.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">www.mbaesq.com</span></a><b><u></u><u></u></b></span></p>
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