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<p class="MsoNormal">I agree that RCW 5.50.030 allows declaration under penalty of perjury in lieu of notarization for the witness testimony. I have used an unsworn declaration for the self-proving affidavit on occasion where no notary is available.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I haven’t had to submit one such to the court since the recent amendments to the probate statutes, but I don’t think the amendments touched on the proof-of-will rules. So I would expect that part to be the same as before.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Sara Longley<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 30, 2026 10:59 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Notarized Will required to admit to probate vs valid Will<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What about RCW 5.50.030? This statute authorizes the use of unsworn declarations so long as the declaration includes the language set out in 5.50.050. I don’t see affidavits in support of wills on the list of exceptions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have many clients whose wills are witnessed and have an unsworn witness declaration attached containing the magic words “I declare under penalty of perjury under the law of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct.” Has anyone
had a problem under the new statute with admitting wills with this type of unsworn declaration?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sara<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif">Sara D. Longley, Attorney</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif">Ivy Law PLLC</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif">1417 NW 54<sup>th</sup> St., Ste. 313</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif">Seattle, WA 98107</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif">(206) 925-2727</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif"><a href="mailto:Sara.Longley@IvyLawPLLC.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">Sara.Longley@IvyLawPLLC.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
<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>Diane Kiepe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 30, 2026 10:52 AM<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] Notarized Will required to admit to probate vs valid 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:18.0pt">I would just add that, under the statute, it can be proven by one of the two witnesses. I have likewise succeeded when both witnesses were either dead or could not be located, using oral testimony. Same
caveat, this was all prior to the recent changes of June 11 and while I don't think this should effect the outcome of allowing oral testimony, like everything else, it's a roll of the dice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#38761D">Diane Kiepe, J.D., LL.M. Taxation</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#38761D">Kiepe Estate and Probate, PLLC</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#38761D"><a href="mailto:diane@kiepelaw.com" target="_blank">diane@kiepelaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#38761D">200 N. Mullan Rd., Suite 203</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#38761D">Spokane Valley, WA 99206</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#38761D">509-808-2087</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 10:44<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span>AM Brent Williams-Ruth <<a href="mailto:brent@williams-ruthlaw.com">brent@williams-ruthlaw.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">It is not that the Will needs to be notarized, but that the "testimony" of the subscribing witnesses needs to be notarized. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">What can be done is simply send a document to each witness that has the same language that your page has when you do signings in your own office and the Court will admit. IF THEY ARE DEAD or
undiscoverable, you can plead your case to the Court and ask that they find the signatures sufficient to establish that it was actually them. I had success doing this BEFORE the big law change on June 11th - I have no idea how they Courts would treat a dead/missing
witness situation now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Brent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
<o:p></o:p></p>
<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><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Physical Address: <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/500+S+336th+Street,+Suite+214;+Federal%0D%0AWay,+WA+98003?entry=gmail&source=g">
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<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">Mailing Address:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><span style="color:red"><a href="tel:(253)%20285-7751" target="_blank">(253) 285-7751</a></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">For All Meetings & Scheduling:
<a href="mailto:info@williams-ruthlaw.com" target="_blank">info@williams-ruthlaw.com</a></span><o:p></o: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><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 10:40<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span>AM Timothy Lehr <<a href="mailto:timothy@stileslaw.com" target="_blank">timothy@stileslaw.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">All,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">I have what is likely a dumb question, but have not came across this before. PC filed a Petition to admit decedent’s Will and open probate, pro se. The Will was signed by two witnesses
but not notarized. The court denied the petition and stated that the Will needs to be notarized and cannot be admitted.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">My office always notarizes our Wills but I did not think that was required to admit a Will to probate. My research found that a Will does not need to be notarized to be a valid
Will under RCW 11.12.020, but a notarized Will creates a self-proving Will. Does a Will need to be notarized to admit to probate or if not notarized, are there additional requirements to admit the un-notarized Will to probate?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Timothy C. Lehr</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Attorney & Partner</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><img border="0" width="191" height="69" style="width:1.9895in;height:.7187in" id="m_-6309748636009015670m_5901973102649960729Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DD50CD.6DB55120"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">p:
<a href="tel:(360)%20855-0131" target="_blank">360.855.0131</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">e:
<a href="mailto:timothy@stileslaw.com" target="_blank">timothy@stileslaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">w:
<a href="http://www.stileslaw.com/" target="_blank">www.stileslaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Please Note:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Our office closes at 12pm on Fridays. If I receive your email after that time, I will respond
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