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<p class="MsoNormal">Was this a self-proving will? If so I think the photocopy of the
<i>affidavit</i> is itself admissible as evidence to prove the contents of the lost Will, if you have someone—perhaps the son?—testify to its authenticity in a Declaration describing the circumstances under which it was found. A backup Declaration from the
drafting attorney might help, to confirm that he did in fact prepare such a Will for the decedent. I posted a while back on this topic, cut-and-pasted here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My argument concerning a photocopy of the self-proving affidavit is that the copy is directly admissible as evidence under
<a href="https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/ER/GA_ER_10_03_00.pdf">ER 1003</a>. The affidavit is evidence and is not an operative part of the Will. The "destroy with intent to revoke" presumption that applies to lost original Wills has no effect on the
affidavit itself; the testator can't "revoke" the evidentiary affidavit. It continues to qualify as a self-proving affidavit attached to "a photocopy of the will" in compliance with
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.20.020">RCW 11.20.020(2)</a>, and it is in writing and signed by witnesses in compliance with
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.20.070">RCW 11.20.070(1)</a>. It is firm evidence of proper execution of the lost Will, and the copy of the Will attached to it readily proves the content of the Will.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can authenticate the copy of the affidavit and the Will contents sufficient for
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.20.070">RCW 11.20.070(2)</a> by having someone testify to the authenticity of the copy of the Will; I recently did that where the decedent had given the PR a copy of the Will 20 years ago and it had been
kept in a sealed envelope by the PR until the decedent's death. The PR testified to personal receipt of the sealed envelope from the testator, and unsealing of the envelope and finding the copy of the Will within. Even easier, if the copy of the Will was maintained
by an attorney's office and someone at the firm can testify to it being kept in their records.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once you have contents and execution proved, the last hurdle is to rebut the weak presumption that the Will was destroyed by the testator with intent to revoke it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua">Covid-19 Update -
</span></b>All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone; please call the Seattle office. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled
on a case-by-case basis; please call the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MAIL AND DELIVERIES can be received at the Seattle office. For any other needed arrangements, please call the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Rob Rowley<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 21, 2020 10:41 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Lost Will - Witnesses Dead/Dementia - Drafting Attorney Disbarred<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">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.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Disbarred drafting attorney will apparently come to court and give testimony if necessary.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Declaration from disbarred attorney in lieu of testimony?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">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.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For various reasons we are forced to probate the real estate.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Recommendations or suggestions?
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Robert R Rowley</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E1735">Attorney & Counselor at Law</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
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252-5074</span></a> <span style="color:blue"><img border="0" width="12" height="12" style="width:.125in;height:.125in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image011.png@01D66010.07F665E0"></span> <a href="tel:(509)%20994-1143" target="new"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#7E8183">(509)
994-1143</span></a><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Practice concentrated on business, real estate and general legal matters in Washington and Idaho. </span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">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
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