If I worked for a law firm over 15 years ago and as a convenience for clients signing Wills in the office served as witness, must I continue to complete witness affidavits?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I worked for a law firm over 15 years ago and as a convenience for clients signing Wills in the office served as witness, must I continue to complete witness affidavits?
From time to time I receive witness affidavits to complete and return. The request includes threat of subpoena if I fail to comply. Am I legally obligated to do this for the rest of my life? Is there any other option? If legally required to comply, can I claim compensation for my services?
Asked on March 12, 2013 under Estate Planning, New York
Answers:
Catherine Blackburn / Blackburn Law Firm
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You are not legally compelled to complete the witness affidavits, but you would be legally compelled to respond to a subpoena. If you are subpoenaed, you are entitled to a witness fee. In most states, this fee will not even pay the cost of your gasoline to appear where you are compelled to appear. If I were you, I would simply sign the affidavit and be done with it.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.