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<p>I endorse Erik's comments and perspective.</p>
<p>K. Garl Long <br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/28/23 12:31,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:erik@egmrealestate.com">erik@egmrealestate.com</a> wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Nathan,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In regard to notarizing leases longer than
one year, I would like to offer some thoughts. As a matter of
background, in my career I have been a commercial real estate
attorney, commercial real estate broker, and an owner and
operator of commercial real estate. So I have seen this stuff
from several relevant angles.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I support the proposed legislation,
HOWEVER, I encourage a modification. <b>I would encourage a
continuing requirement for notarization of leases that are
longer than 10 years.</b> Here is my reasoning:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" type="1" start="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph"
style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> Consistency
in Approach. A lease of 99 years is not that different than
a conveyance. If we are going to require notarization in
deeds, I think the same reasoning would result in the
requirement for notarization of long-term leases. <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" type="1" start="2">
<li class="MsoListParagraph"
style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Opportunity
for Abuse. I believe the reasoning behind our requirement
for notarization of deeds is to (a) prevent fraud and (b)
allow for more efficient resolution of disputes in the
instance of alleged fraud. If someone produces a copy of a
99 year lease 30 years after it was allegedly signed, and
the purported lessor is deceased, it will be difficult for
the parties to resolve whether or not the lease is in fact
authentic. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that
leases are not customarily recorded. The opportunity for
abuse is that an unscrupulous party can produce a 99 year
lease with a signature of a deceased person, and cause all
sorts of difficulty for the owners of the land affected by
the lease. <br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Although I am not
very familiar with the law around testamentary wills, I
believe there is a similarity to long term leases, in that it
is inherently likely in regard to both types of documents that
the authenticity of the document may be called into question
at a time that the signatory to the document is deceased. In
testamentary wills, witnesses are required. For long term
leases, a requirement for notarization would serve that role.
(I believe some states require witnesses for long term leases;
but for consistency with the remainder of Washington’s real
estate conveyance law and custom, using notaries for long term
leases, rather than witnesses, is likely the right answer.)<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" type="1" start="3">
<li class="MsoListParagraph"
style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Recording
Laws. Generally documents that are to be recorded must be
notarized. While a person could still get a lease
notarized, it will cease to be custom to do so. In my
opinion it would be good if long-term leases remained in a
form that could be recorded.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph"
style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Minimal
Unintended Effect. If we require notarization of leases
with a term longer than 10 years (and I would encourage an
express statement that renewal or extension terms are to be
disregarded in the calculation of the term for the purposes
of the notarization requirement), it will affect only a very
very small percentage of leases; and those lease that it
does effect are serious ones with significant terms, where
the minimal hurdle of notarization is probably a good thing
in that it prevents the parties from rushing to signature.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hope this input is helpful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Erik<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4D573A;mso-ligatures:none">Erik
G Marks</span></i></b><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#4D573A;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span
style="font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif;color:#4D573A;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4D573A;mso-ligatures:none">Attorney
at Law</span></i></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4D573A;mso-ligatures:none">
</span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
PO Box 16247<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Seattle,
WA 98116<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> <br>
(206) 612-8653<br>
</span><u><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none"><a
href="mailto:erik@egmrealestate.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="color:#0563C1">erik@egmrealestate.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Physical
Office:<br>
4220 SW Spokane St<br>
Seattle, WA 98116<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<br>
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