<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">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.</div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="color:rgb(56,118,29);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large">Diane Kiepe, J.D., LL.M. Taxation</span></div><div><font color="#38761d" face="georgia, serif" size="4">Kiepe Estate and Probate, PLLC<br></font><div><font size="4" face="georgia, serif" color="#38761d"><a href="mailto:diane@kiepelaw.com" target="_blank">diane@kiepelaw.com</a></font></div><div><font size="4" face="georgia, serif" color="#38761d">200 N. Mullan Rd., Suite 203</font></div><div><font size="4" face="georgia, serif" color="#38761d">Spokane Valley, WA 99206</font></div></div><div><span style="color:rgb(56,118,29);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large">509-808-2087</span></div><div><div><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px">Confidentiality</span><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px"> Notice: This page and any accompanying documents contain information that is </span><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px">confidential</span><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px">, privileged, or exempt from disclosure under applicable law and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee. This information is private and protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information in any manner is strictly prohibited.</span></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 10:44 AM Brent Williams-Ruth <<a href="mailto:brent@williams-ruthlaw.com">brent@williams-ruthlaw.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 dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" 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. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" 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. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Brent</div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="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: <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/500+S+336th+Street,+Suite+214;+Federal%0D%0AWay,+WA+98003?entry=gmail&source=g">500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal
Way, WA 98003</a></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:rgb(0,64,128)"> </span><font color="#ff0000"><a href="tel:(253)%20285-7751" value="+12532857751" target="_blank">(253) 285-7751</a></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:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 10:40 AM Timothy Lehr <<a href="mailto:timothy@stileslaw.com" target="_blank">timothy@stileslaw.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>
<div lang="EN-US">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">All,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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?
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Timothy C. Lehr<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Attorney & Partner<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><img width="191" height="69" style="width: 1.9895in; height: 0.7187in;" id="m_-6309748636009015670m_5901973102649960729Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:ii_1a0f368ff674ce8e91"><span><u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">p: <a href="tel:(360)%20855-0131" value="+13608550131" target="_blank">360.855.0131</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">e: <a href="mailto:timothy@stileslaw.com" target="_blank">
timothy@stileslaw.com</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">w: <a href="http://www.stileslaw.com/" target="_blank">
www.stileslaw.com</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt">Please Note:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt"> Our office closes at 12pm on Fridays. If I receive your email after that time, I will respond as soon as possible
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