[WSBARP] Lost Will - Witnesses Dead/Dementia - Drafting Attorney Disbarred

Wed Jul 22 09:33:35 PDT 2020

I had a similar situation years ago where there were no witnesses available at time of death (probably deceased) and the persons named as PR and alternate were deceased.  We used the declaration of the drafting attorney to establish authenticity of the copy and the declaration of decedent’s AIF of over 15 years to establish the circumstances surrounding lost will and lack of revocation.

Lenard L Wittlake, PLLC

Attorney & Counselor at Law

22 East Poplar Street, Suite 202

P.O. Box 1233

Walla Walla, WA 99362

(509) 529-1529 voice

(509) 850-3515 fax

 <mailto:Lenard at wittlakelaw.com> Lenard at wittlakelaw.com

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Rob Rowley
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 8:31 AM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv
Subject: Re: [WSBARP] Lost Will - Witnesses Dead/Dementia - Drafting Attorney Disbarred

Because there are other biological children (2 siblings) who receive nothing under the will but would receive an intestate share.  

Robert R Rowley
Attorney & Counselor at Law
  <tel:(509)%20252-5074> (509) 252-5074    <tel:(509)%20994-1143> (509) 994-1143
  <fax:(509)%20928-3084> (509) 928-3084    <http://www.rowleylegal.com/> rowleylegal.com
  <mailto:rob at rowleylegal.com> rob at rowleylegal.com
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Practice concentrated on business, real estate and general legal matters in Washington and Idaho. 

NOTICE: The contents of this message and any attachments may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or other applicable protections. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify the sender and promptly delete the message. Thank you for your assistance. DISCLAIMER: You should recognize that responses provided by e-mail means are akin to ordinary telephone or face-to-face conversations and do not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion. A formal opinion may very well reach a different conclusion.

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Jason Burnett
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 8:11 AM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBARP] Lost Will - Witnesses Dead/Dementia - Drafting Attorney Disbarred

If son is the sole heir, is the LWT important?  What would be the material difference between a testate and intestate distribution?  

Jason W. Burnett
Attorney at Law
Reed Longyear Malnati & Ahrens, PLLC

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From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Rob Rowley
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2020 10:41 AM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBARP] Lost Will - Witnesses Dead/Dementia - Drafting Attorney Disbarred

Recommendations or suggestions where the sole heir of his mother’s estate (son) only has a copy of the will.  However, both witnesses are either dead or have dementia and the drafting attorney subsequently was disbarred.  He was lawfully practicing at the time he drafted the will.

Disbarred drafting attorney will apparently come to court and give testimony if necessary.

Declaration from disbarred attorney in lieu of testimony?

I have dealt with the situation several times where we have a lost original but are able to use it with new declarations from the original witnesses.  Not available now.

For various reasons we are forced to probate the real estate.

Recommendations or suggestions? 

Robert R Rowley
Attorney & Counselor at Law
  <tel:(509)%20252-5074> (509) 252-5074    <tel:(509)%20994-1143> (509) 994-1143
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  <mailto:rob at rowleylegal.com> rob at rowleylegal.com
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NOTICE: The contents of this message and any attachments may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or other applicable protections. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify the sender and promptly delete the message. Thank you for your assistance. DISCLAIMER: You should recognize that responses provided by e-mail means are akin to ordinary telephone or face-to-face conversations and do not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion. A formal opinion may very well reach a different conclusion.

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