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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks everyone for your help – you confirmed what I thought was right.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Heather Kolbly<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>James W. Spencer<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, August 11, 2015 2:36 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Providing .doc version of final will to clients?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Listmates:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>My rule is to never hand over .docs to clients for the reasons discussed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>That said, in this circumstance, I may be comfortable providing them a stripped version (no footer with the firm name, and scrubbed of all metadata) with a strongly-worded disclosure that they should always consult with an attorney before making any changes to their documents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>In my humble opinion, when properly-scrubbed of your identifying information and with disclosures, there is little downside to handing the .docs over to a client with which you are no longer going to have a relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>My $.02.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>James W. Spencer, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><img width=201 height=30 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt="57138_967366_54937_image - small"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>1700 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2100<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Seattle, Washington 98101<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>tel: (206) 420-4567 | fax: (888) 807-0306 | <u><a href="http://www.spectra-law.com">www.spectra-law.com</a></u><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Business & Estate Planning | LGBT Law | Probate & Trust<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SpectraLawPs" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.png@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt=Facebook></span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SpectraLawPS" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image004.png@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt=Twitter></span></a><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/spectra-law-ps-seattle"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=31 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image005.png@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTXMQqCYoJ9Ip0jGzqEQ94Yuo6R1v_9pl7faZHiR59ho3emkLyuHw"></span></a><a href="http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/98101-wa-james-spencer-36669.html"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=120 height=29 id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image006.png@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt="Avvo - Rate your Lawyer. Get Free Legal Advice."></span></a><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This electronic message is intended to be used exclusively by the individual to whom it is addressed. This message may contain information that is privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication or the use of its contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by phone at (206) 420-4567 and delete the original message from your e-mail system. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dalynne Singleton<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, August 11, 2015 1:35 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Providing .doc version of final will to clients?<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>No way would I provide a .doc version to them. I think your policy is quite reasonable and if their new attorneys want the .pdf versions, I might not provide those. They can always buy the Adobe Reader that allows changes to be made in .pdf files… When I send my draft of estate planning docs to clients, I do so with DRAFT on them in .pdf. Never a final, non-DRAFT version.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'>Dalynne Singleton</span></b><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><img border=0 width=220 height=151 id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:image007.jpg@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt="SingletonLawGD27aR04aP02ZL-Johnson4a_mdm"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Californian;color:#660033'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'>3215 NW Lowell Street, #161<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'>Silverdale, WA 98383<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'>Phone: 360-329-4079<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'>Fax: 360-443-1259<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'>E-mail: <a href="mailto:dalynne@singletonlawgroup.net"><span style='color:#660033'>dalynne@singletonlawgroup.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'>Web: <a href="http://www.singletonlawgroup.net/"><span style='color:#660033'>www.singletonlawgroup.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#660033'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Californian;color:#660033'>LICENSED IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Californian;color:#660033'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#660033'>IMPORTANT/CONFIDENTIAL: This e-mail message (and any attachments accompanying it) may contain confidential information, including information protected by attorney-client privilege. The information is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). Delivery of this message to anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is not intended to waive any privilege or otherwise detract from the confidentiality of the message. If you are not the intended recipient, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, do not read, disclose, reproduce, distribute, disseminate or otherwise use this transmission, rather, please promptly notify the sender by reply e-mail, and then destroy all copies of the message and its attachments, if any.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#660033'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><img border=0 width=72 height=104 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image008.jpg@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt="EAGLE 2015"> </span></b><a href="http://www.superlawyers.com/redir?r=http://www.superlawyers.com/washington/lawyer/Gary-Manca/ca059d21-1b6e-4fca-b396-80c253f82402.html&c=email_Small_badge&i=ca059d21-1b6e-4fca-b396-80c253f82402" title=""Visit the official website of Super Lawyers" "><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=32 id="_x0000_i1032" src="cid:image009.png@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt="Rated by Super Lawyers"></span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:black'><img border=0 width=168 height=84 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image010.jpg@01D0D858.6668F2E0" alt="cid:X.MA1.1404868472@aol.com"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Heather Kolbly<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, August 11, 2015 1:19 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> WSBA RPPT <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Providing .doc version of final will to clients?<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi All,<span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I am closing my law practice and I've had several clients ask me for .doc versions of their final Will, powers of attorney and living wills. They say it's so they can provide it to a new attorney for easier updates to their current documents I drafted for them. My policy is to only provide PDF copies because it's too easy for clients to make their own updates that may be detrimental to their estate. Also, I have spent 12 years honing my documents and I consider them proprietary creations of mine that it don't want people I don't know copying. The clients are not happy with my policy and have given some pretty snippy replies to my reasons for not giving them .dic versions of final wills, etc.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Do any of you provide changeable (.doc) final versions of your legal docs to clients? Am I maybe being too cautious? I don't think so, but I thought I'd ask.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Heather Kolbly<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>KOLBLY LAW FIRM, PC<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>(425) 444-1888<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Heather@Kolblylaw.com">Heather@Kolblylaw.com</a><br><br>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><p class=MsoNormal>________________________________<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div></body></html>