<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Bella Donna";}
@font-face
{font-family:"TypoUpright BT";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:blue;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for all the responses. You have raised interesting, and troubling issues. The Clallam County recording office is very professional and hands off. We routinely record redacted death certificates without any questions. Jefferson County, however, acts as a “Gate Keeper.” It happily refuses to record deeds it does not like, for example, if the deed was signed a few years before the holder attempts to record it. They also won’t record letters testamentary if it has the gold star sticker claiming clerk’s stamp can’t be scanned clearly.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So now, before I travel to Port Townsend to record the death certificate, I will call them and find out their attitude on redacting the document.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks again!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeff <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul Neumiller<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 22, 2019 1:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship - Affidavit of Lack of Probate<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>This area is a mess. The Island County Auditor says to record the whole death certificate and <i>they</i> redact the information. This issue came up a few years ago and someone at the time from Spokane area said that the Auditor there said that if the attorney redacted the information from the death certificate, the attorney was “guilty” of defacing a public document. Yikes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="Paul_A__Neumiller"><img width=250 height=150 style='width:2.6041in;height:1.5625in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D510AC.203EE5F0"></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><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">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Kathleen Hopkins<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 22, 2019 1:24 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> Re: [WSBARP] Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship - Affidavit of Lack of Probate<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Seems like WSBA RPPT should lobby for a change in the law next session, no? In the meantime, how about getting an AGO that the redaction is not a non-conforming document but done to prevent identity theft? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i>Kathleen J. Hopkins <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Real Property Law Group, PLLC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1326 Fifth Avenue, Suite 654 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Seattle, WA 98101 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone & Fax: (206) 625-0404 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>email: <a href="mailto:khopkins@rp-lawgroup.com">khopkins@rp-lawgroup.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.rp-lawgroup.com/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.rp-lawgroup.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>This message is protected by the attorney-client privilege and the work-product doctrine; if you are not the intended recipient of this message please let the sender know you received it in error and please delete this message. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Pursuant to U.S. Treasury Regulations concerning tax practice, you are advised that this message is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, by anyone for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under any tax laws; or promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:#00B050'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><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">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jeanne Dawes<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 22, 2019 11:45 AM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>; <a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship - Affidavit of Lack of Probate<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:blue'>I recently had a conversation with our auditor about filing the death certificate in connection with a Community Property Agreement. I wanted to redact social security number and mother’s maiden name, and was told if I do that on the Certified copy of the death certificate, that it would no longer be considered exempt from the recording format requirements, and would be a non-conforming document requiring the coversheet and additional $50 recording fee. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>This came up in the context of filing a Surviving Spouse Affidavit in connection with a Community Property Agreement. Typically I just file the Affidavit, and do not include the certified copy of the death certificate, because I do not want it to be of public record. I noticed others do record the death certificate and do not redact any information. That prompted my call to the auditor, and the information I received. However, the auditor did indicate I could continue to file the Surviving Spouse Affidavit without attaching a death certificate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>I later discover that Steven’s county won’t record the Surviving Spouse Affidavit without a certified copy of the death certificate. I do not know if they allow redactions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'>I discovered there was a bill submitted in the legislature to create a short-form death certificate that does not contain all of the information on the now current death certificate, it would not include social, maiden name and cause of death, which really is not needed for our purposes and for good reason should not be required to be made of public record. Unfortunately the bill did not get out of committee. Maybe next year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"TypoUpright BT";color:blue'>Jeanne</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"TypoUpright BT";color:blue'>Jeanne J.</span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'> </span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Bella Donna";color:blue'>Dawes<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>Attorney at Law</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>Gore & Grewe, P.S.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>103 E. Indiana Avenue, Suite A</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>Spokane, WA 99207-2317</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>Voice: 509-326-7500</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>Fax: 509-326-7503</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'><a href="mailto:jjdawes@goregrewe.com">jjdawes@goregrewe.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><img border=0 width=271 height=152 style='width:2.8229in;height:1.5833in' id="_x0037_029b209-7d72-4ff3-a3f4-7f0f7da9282c" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D510AC.203EE5F0" alt="cid:7029b209-7d72-4ff3-a3f4-7f0f7da9282c"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS E-MAIL TRANSMISSION IS PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><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">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jennifer Johnson<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 22, 2019 11:15 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a>; WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship - Affidavit of Lack of Probate<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>WAC 458-61A-202 hasn't changed. I file cover sheets and death certificates like you do, and pay the $10 to the Treasurer. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I seem to be encountering increasing instances of county officials giving legal advice like this, although I think that they don't recognize it as legal advice because the lack of probate affidavit that you reference is a Department of Revenue sanctioned form. People are being told to just file the affidavit so that they can claim the inheritance exemption from excise tax, without realizing that, from a legal perspective, that may be entirely the wrong course of action or, from a title insurance perspective, it tells us nothing that we need to know in order to insure a transaction. That's just my two cents...<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Johnson<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Title Officer | Attorney<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Wahkiakum Title & Escrow Co.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>(360) 795-3741<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.wahtitle.com">www.wahtitle.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Wed, May 22, 2019 at 9:16 AM Jeff Davis <<a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><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'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Listmates,<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'>Client’s father titled his home in himself and his son & wife as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Father died. Jefferson County, I believe Auditor’s office, told client he needed to file an Affidavit of Lack of Probate. The form they gave him is not nearly as detailed as those from title companies. I have never used this affidavit when dealing with JTWROS. Has something changed? I have always just recorded the death certificate with a coversheet referencing the deed. Your thoughts.<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'>Jeff<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'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>W. Jeff Davis, Esq.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>BELL & DAVIS PLLC<br>P.O. Box 510<br>Sequim WA 98382<br>Phone No.:(360) 683.1129 <br>Fax No.: (360) 683.1258 <br>email: <a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com" target="_blank">info@bellanddavispllc.com</a><br><a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank">www.bellanddavispllc.com</a><br> <br>The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please e-mail the sender at <a href="mailto:info@bellanddavispllc.com" target="_blank">info@bellanddavispllc.com</a> or call 360.683.1129</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>WSBARP mailing list<br><a href="mailto:WSBARP@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">WSBARP@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbarp" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbarp</a><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div></div></body></html>