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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Listmates:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would not assume that the client does not remain domiciled in Texas. Also, do not confuse “full faith and credit,” a requirement of the Constitution among the various states, and the doctrine of comity which means Texas might voluntarily recognize the application of Mexican law. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-is-your-domicile.html">What Is Your Domicile? | Nolo</a><br><br>I recently had a multistate situation where a client domiciled here moved indefinitely to AR to care for her elderly mother. She wanted to revise her Will. I took the position she could execute a WA will there because she is still domiciled here. <br><br>As for notarizing the self-proving affidavit, I would probably do it as a declaration under penalty of perjury under the laws of WA. If you notarize something in Mexico, you will need an apostille from the recognized authority there under the treaty. Best to do that up front rather than later. But I would do it as a Declaration instead. Mexico is a member of the Hague Treaty:<br><br><a href="https://www.internationalapostille.com/hague-apostille-member-countries/">Hague Apostille Member Countries (internationalapostille.com)</a><br><br>John J. Sullivan<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><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>Jim Doran<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 19, 2022 1:11 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] USA / Mexico and Wills<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I think this is the right answer. Texas would give full faith and credit to a Mexican Will if the Mexican Will is done correctly. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>However, I am reminded of sailors and soldiers who make their Wills while abroad. If these clients here have two witnesses and a Notary for the witnesses it should be good. My only reservation is that it would be a Mexican Notario.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Any more comments will be appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>James R. Doran<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>100 E. Pine Street - Suite 205<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Bellingham, WA 98225<br>(360)393-9506<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:jim@doranlegal.com" target="_blank">jim@doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.doranlegal.com" target="_blank">www.doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Wed, Jan 19, 2022 at 2:14 PM Andrew Hay <<a href="mailto:andrewhay@washingtonlaw.net">andrewhay@washingtonlaw.net</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-right:0in'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>This seems like a risk to me. Sounds like they actually live in Mexico. Can someone attack the will by showing it was not executed properly under Mexican or Texas law? Notary titles and roles also vary from country to country.<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'>If they execute it in a way that is valid under Mexico law it would be valid here in WA, but do we know Texas accepts wills properly executed under the law of Mexico?<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'>A little high on my risk meter, but my concerns would be lower if the will was drafted by a Mexican attorney so that you know for sure it is valid under the laws of where it was signed.<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'><b><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>Andrew Hay</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>Hay & Swann PLLC</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>201 S. 34<sup>th</sup> St.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>Tacoma, WA 98418</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.washingtonlaw.net/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.washingtonlaw.net</span></a></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:andrewhay@washingtonlaw.net" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>andrewhay@washingtonlaw.net</span></a></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>He/him/his</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>253.272.2400 (w)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>253.377.3085 (c)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Berlin Sans FB",sans-serif'>THIS IS A CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION AND IS INTENDED FOR THE DESIGNATED RECIPIENT ONLY. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS COMMUNICATION IN ERROR, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SENDER IMMEDIATELY AND DESTROY ALL COPIES</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><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'> <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'> <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 style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jim Doran<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 19, 2022 11:49 AM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] USA / Mexico and Wills<o:p></o:p></p></div><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'>Two interesting questions.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Clients are living in Mexico but still consider themselves domiciled in Texas. They want to update their Texas Wills. I presume that means new Will for husband and wife. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Can they make a USA / Texas Will while they are in Mexico and have the signatures of the witnesses done in Mexico bu other Americans who are in Mexico? And, can the notarization of the witnesses signatures be done by a Mexican Notario?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>I think the answer is yes to both but it would be good to get some corroboration.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Jim Doran<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>James R. Doran<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>100 E. Pine Street - Suite 205<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Bellingham, WA 98225<br>(360)393-9506<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="mailto:jim@doranlegal.com" target="_blank">jim@doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="http://www.doranlegal.com" target="_blank">www.doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></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>