[blindlaw] Re Witnessing documents as blind lawyer

[Elizabeth Rene]

I think one should first look carefully at one's state statutes regarding 
documents that must be witnessed: Wills, deeds, etc., to see what makes them 
valid or invalid.  It might be that one doesn't need even to see the 
document signed, but only to have, e.g. the testator, grantor, etc. say in 
your presence that the signature is his or hers.

And there's always a little theatre in lawyering, I think.  If you're 
worried about how it will look to your client to have a blind person 
witnessing a document, why not have a notary public there, with all her 
seals and affidavits, to acknowledge the signature, with you and whomever 
else to sign off as witnesses?  It might not be legally required to make 
your document valid, but could put the client's and your own mind at rest. 
And there's nothing to being made a notary, so your secretary could serve 
that function, with no extra cost to your client.  This is with the caveat 
that my words aren't legal advice, and, as Bill Handle always says on his 
radio show, "worth every cent you paid for it!"

Elizabeth