DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 01 Series of 2020 Date: APR 16 2020 ‘SUPPLETORY GUIDELINES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN REMAINS FOR PATIENT UNDER INVESTIGATION (PUI) AND CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES (DILG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2020-063) 4. RATIONALE With the growing number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related deaths, the proper management of infectious human remains becomes of paramount importance in ensuring the health of the community and in containing the spread of the coronavirus. While the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-063 or the Interim Guidelines on the Management of Human Remains for PUI and Confirmed COVID-19 Cases provides for the general guidelines, other important considerations must also be taken to ensure the proper management of infectious human remains, to prevent the overpricing’ of funeral and cremation services, and to avoid compromising the health and well-being of the responders, and the public, in general In this regard, the following shall provide additional guidelines in the management of human remains for PUI and confirmed COVID-19 cases: 2. SCOPE All Local Chief Executives, DILG and DOH-CHD Regional Directors, BARMM Ministers of Local Government and Health, all referral facilities (private and public), and all others concerned. 3. SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES 3.1. Per DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0013, or the Revised Administrative ‘Order 2020-0012 “Guidelines for the Inclusion of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the List of Notifiable Diseases for Mandatory Reporting to the Department of Health” dated March 17, 2020 issued by the Department of Health on April 09, 2020, the new classification of COVID-19 cases (Items 2, and 2.2) are the following: " IATF-EIO Resolution No. 15 8.2020 dated March 24, 2020 item E (e) The LGU may release issuances or ordinances to put a Price cap or impose price freeze on funeral services located within thei jurisciction DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-063 dated March 27, 2020 Item 4.8 The LGU may release issuances or ordinances to put price cap or mpose a price freeze on funeral services located within their jurisdiction, RA 7581 or the Price Act, amended by RA 10623.3.1.1. Suspect case - is a person who is presenting with any of the conditions below: 3.1.1.1. All SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) cases where NO other etiology fully explains the clinical presentation; 3.1.1.2. _ ILI (Influenza-Like lliness) cases with any one of the following: 3.1.1.2.1. With no other etiology that fully explains the clinical presentation AND a history of travel to or residence in an area that reported local transmission of COVID-19 disease during the 14 days prior to symptoms onset, OR; 3.1.1.2.2. With contact to a confirmed or probable case of COVID- 19 in the two days prior to onset of illness of the probable/confirmed COVID-19 case until the time the probable/confirmed COVID-19 case became negative on repeat testing. 3.1.1.3. _ Individuals with fever or cough or shortness of breath or other respiratory signs or symptoms fulfilling any one of the following conditions: 3.1.1.3.1. Aged 60 years and above; 3.11.32. With comorbidity; 3.1.1.3.3. Assessed as having a high-risk pregnancy; and 3.1.1.3.4. Health Worker. 3.1.2. Probable case - a suspect case who fulfils anyone of the following listed below: 3.1.2.1. Suspect case whom testing for COVID-19 is inconclusive; 3.1.2.2. Suspect case who tested positive for COVID-19 but whose test was not conducted in a national or subnational reference laboratory or officially accredited laboratory for COVID-19 confirmatory testing. q 3.1.3. Confirmed case - any individual, irrespective of presence or absence of clinical signs and symptoms, who was laboratory confirmed for COVID-19 in a test conducted at the national reference laboratory, a sub national reference laboratory, and/or DOH.-cetified laboratory testing facility. 3.2. With the new case classification and definition, all dead bodies of suspect, probable and COVID-19 confirmed cases must be identified, documented and correctly labeled with identity label/biohazard tag on the cadaver bag as: COVID-19-RELATED CASE - HANDLE WITH CARE 3.2.1. For referral facility/hospital deaths, it shall be the responsibility of the attending physician or duly authorized personnel to tag the cadaver; 3.2.2. For deaths outside the referral facility/hospital, it shall be the responsibility of the Local Health Officer to tag the cadaver. 4. REITERATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS: 4.1, Every city/municipality must have designated funeral parlors and/or crematoriums for the human remains of suspect and probable (PUI), and confirmed COVID-19 cases; 4.2. The city/municipality shall enter into a Memorandum of. Agreement (MOA) with reputable funeral service providers and/or crematorium. The MOA shall include the fixed cost of service package, that is fair and rational for the bereaved families and the LGU, and in accordance with existing Department of Trade and Industry issuances on price“ regulation and price freeze;4.3. Any funeral service provider and/or crematorium who refuses to provide the necessary services, or charges exorbitant prices, for a suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 case will be closed permanently by cancelling its business permit; 4.4. The human remains of all suspect, probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases should be cremated or buried within 12 hours from the time of death; 45. The remains of all Muslims classified as suspect, probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases should be buried within 12 hours from the time of death at the nearest Muslim cemetery. 5. PERSONS CHARGED WITH THE DUTY OF BURIAL: 5.1. The immediate duty of burying the body of a deceased person, regardless of the ultimate liability for the expenses thereof, shall devolve upon the persons herein below specified! 5.1.1. Ifthe deceased was a married man or woman, the duty of burial shall devolve upon the surviving spouse if he or she possesses sufficient means to pay the necessary expenses; 5.1.2. _ Ifthe deceased was an unmarried man or woman, or a child and left any kin, the duty of burial shall devolve upon the nearest kin of the deceased, if they be adults and within the Philippines and in possession of sufficient means to defray the necessary expenses; 5.1.3. If the deceased left no spouse or kindred possessed of sufficient means to defray the necessary expenses, as provided in the two foregoing subsections, the duty of burial shall devolve upon the City or Municipal authorities (emphasis supplied)?; 5.1.4. The funeral, and burial or cremation of the deceased who died fas suspect, probable (PUI) or confirmed COVID-19 case must be facilitated within twelve (12) hours 5.2. Any person charged by law with the duty of burying the body of a deceased person is entitled to the custody of such body for the purpose of burying it, except when an inquest is required by law for the purpose of determining the cause of death; and, in case of death due to or accompanied by a dangerous communicable disease, such body shall, until buried, remain in the custody of the local health board or local health officer, or if there be no such, then in the custody of the [City/]Municipal Government (emphasis supplied)’. 6. DISPOSITION OF THE HUMAN REMAINS OF A PERSON WHO DIED OF DANGEROUS COMMUNICABLE DISEASE WITHOUT CLAIMANTS, REFUSED OR UNABLE TO CLAIM BY IMMEDIATE FAMILY OR RELATIVES: 6.1. The order of priority for disposal shall be the following, to be conducteg— within 12 hours from the time of death: 6.1.1. Cremation; 6.1.2. A double-sealed casket burial; 6.1.3. Double bag burial; 6.1.4. Freezer (for temporary storage only) 2 Section 1103 of Act No.2711 ® Section 1104 of Act No. 271162. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68, If an identified deceased person expired in the city or municipality where he/she resided, the concerned Punong Barangay shall exert all efforts to determine the identity and whereabouts of the next of kin or the legitimate/rightful claimants; inform them of the situation, and determine from them whether the deceased shall be buried or cremated; and the local Management of the Dead and Missing Persons (MDM) Cluster shall then provide or facilitate through the identified funeral service providers with transportation for burial/cremation; If an identified deceased person expired in a city/municipality other than where he/she resided, the representative of the local MDM Cluster of that city/municipality [ie., place of death] shall coordinate with the local MDM Cluster of the city/municipality [.e., place of residence], which will in turn link him/her with the Punong Barangay where the deceased and/or his immediate relatives reside so that the latter can perform the aforementioned tasks, and the local MDM Cluster of the concemed LGU (residence of the deceased) shall provide or facilitate through the identified funeral service providers with transportation for burial/cremation as long as it will be facilitated within twelve (12) hours; The requirement of a death certificate, as provided in Section 4.1.1, Chapter XXI, IRR of PD 856, is temporarily waived in the interest of Public health, which necessitates the immediate disposition of infectious dead bodies and human remains. Provided, however, that the person who, or the entity which, will facilitate the burial or cremation of the human remains must ensure that there is appropriate documentation about the deceased (ie., information about the identity, cause of death, Place of death, etc.). Further, however, the death cettificate must be completed by the concerned attending physician or qualified local officials, as provided in Sections 4.1.2* and 4.1.3° within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of death; Unidentified and unprocessed human remains shall never be cremated or buried in mass graves®, where unprocessed human remains refer to a cadaver that did not undergo post-mortem care or the forensic identification process; The LGU shall be responsible for the final disposition of unidentified dead bodies or human remains, which shall be buried in individual or collective graves’ (but never on mass graves), properly marked and labeled with their unique case numbers®; No dead bodies or human remains shall be retained, interred, disposed of or exhumed without the consent of the persons provided in Articles 234 and 305 of RA No. 386%; If the deceased person's immediate family and/or relatives refuse to claim the dead body or human remains due to the disease or other reasonable circumstances, a release waiver and quitclaim (see Annex ‘A) shall be executed by the claimants to be facilitated by the concerned — * Section 4.1.2 of Chapter XXI, IRR of PD 856 "The death certificate must be issued by he attending government physician or private physician 5 Section 4.1.3 of Chapter XXI, IRR of PD 856 “in extreme cases, where no physician isin attendance, it shall be issued by the () CityMunicipel heath officer, (b) Mayor, or (c) The secretary ofthe municipal boar, or (d) A councilor ofthe municipal where the death occurred 5 item 4.7 of NORRMC Memorandum Circular No. 19s. 2016 ICRC Management of Dead Bodies after Disasters Second Esiton. “Human remains should be buried in clearly marked. individual graves. For extreme disasters (Le. very large numbers of fatalties with limited resources andlor capacity to dig individual graves), a collective grave or trench burial may be unavoidable.” 8 tem 62.4 of NORRMC Memorandum Circular No, 198. 2016 ° article 308 of RA No. 386LGU where the deceased person resided, delegating the responsibility of the final disposition of the dead body to the LGU, and such shall serve as proof that they have waived to exercise their right and/or duty; 6.9. The claimants must execute a Special Power of Attorney (see Annex B) to be assisted by the LGU where the deceased person resided in order to delegate the obligation of the final disposition of the cadaver to the concerned LGU, upon any of the following circumstances: 6.9.1. The claimants are under quarantine; or 6.9.2. The claimants will not be able to reach the deceased's body within 12 hours 6.10. Upon execution of a Special Power of Attorney, the concerned LGU official where the deceased person died shall be recognized as ‘signatory to the documents, such as the death certificates, application for permit to cremate, among others; 6.11. _ In within the capacity of the kin of the deceased person, the transport and transfer of the cadaver to the burial site or crematorium from the hospital shall be the responsibility of the funeral service provider or the relatives of the deceased, with strict observance of the safety protocols on handling the cadaver; 6.12. In case of cadavers that were declared abandoned by the hospital, the city/municipal government shall secure the transportation, retrieval and transfer of the cadaver through its accredited funeral service providers; 6.13. As necessary, in transporting the cadaver to the funeral Parlors/crematorium or burial site, the local PNP shall provide security and ensure that family members shall not touch the deceased person's body, and strictly observe the other provisions as stated in Item 5.7 of DILG MC 2020-063; 6.14. In the event that the number of cadavers exceeds the capacity of the hospital morgue, the hospital must provide fteezer vans as temporary ‘storage facilities for human remains. The recommended temperature for preservation is 2°C to 4°C (35.6°F to 39.2°F)'°; 6.15. The referral facility/hospital shall provide for the needed [personal protective equipment (PPEs), cadaver bags and other necessary implements for abandoned/unclaimed cadavers, and is responsible for providing the appropriate post-mortem care. However, for identified cadavers, the concemed LGUs, upon report from the referral facility/hospital, shall augment PPEs, cadaver bags and other necessary implements; 6.16. _ Disposition procedure for cadavers of Muslims: 6.16.1. _If the person died inside a referral faciity/hospital: 6.16.1.1. Issuance of death certificate and burial shall be done within 12 hours from the time of death; 6.16.1.2. Hygiene preparations such as cleaning of the body, tidying of hair, trimming of nails and shaving, and embalming shall not be allowed (emphasis supplied); 6.6.1.3. The cadaver, after proper disinfection, shall be placed in a double bag for burial; 6.16.14. Immediately and within 12 hours, the cadaver shall be transported to the nearest Muslim cemetery with the assistance of an Imam who will perform Islamic burial rites; 6.16.2. If the person died outside of a referral facilty/hospita: *° ic Management of Dead Bodies after Disasters Second Ealtion “Temporary storage of dead bodies”6.16.2.1. Hygiene preparations such as cleaning of the body, tidying of hair, trimming of nails and shaving, and embalming shall not be allowed (emphasis supplied); 6.16.22. Representatives from the Local Government Unit shall proceed to the location of the cadaver and conduct the necessary procedures (packaging, removal and transport) as provided in DILG MC 2020-063; 6.16.2.3. After disinfection, the cadaver shall be wrapped in a tightly-sealed cloth with double bag for burial; 6.16.2.4. Immediately and within 12 hours, the cadaver shall be transported to the nearest Muslim cemetery with the assistance of an Imam who will perform Islamic burial rites. ON THE COST OF BURIAL OF THE DECEASED: wa 72. 7.3, 74, 75. As a general rule, the cost of the burial of a dead person shall be borne by the nearest kin. If the kin is not financially capable of defraying the expenses, or if the deceased had no kin, the cost shall be borne by the city or municipal government where the deceased person expired, subject to reimbursement by the LGU where the dead person held permanent residence; For the death of an indigent person as determined by the LSWDO or DSWD, the cost of burial shall be borne by the city/municipality. If the cost of burial exceeds the cap set by the concerned LGU, augmentation shall be provided by DSWD in accordance to Section 7.2.1 of DILG- DBM-DOLE-DSWD-DA-DTI-DOF Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1s. 2020 or the Special Guidelines on the Provision of Social Amelioration Measures; : In case the dead person is not classified as an indigent, and if the kin is rot financially capable of defraying the expenses, but is classified as, vulnerable, disadvantaged or otherwise in crisis situation based on the assessment of the LSWDO/DSWD"", the provisions on Sections 7.2.1 and 7.2.2 of DILG-DBM-DOLE-DSWD-DA-DTI-DOF Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 s. 2020 shall be applied, in close coordination with DSWD. Any excess cost shall be defrayed by the kin but in an agreement to be facilitated by the concerned LGU on the terms of payment with the identified funeral services provider, or, if the kin, upon assessment, is not capable to defray such expenses, the concerned LGU shall augment to support such payment; The LGU may augment, as necessary, the cost of burial to supplement the.burial assistance from DSWD, as per Section 7.2.1 of DILG-DBM- DOLE- DSWD-DA-DTI-DOF Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 s. 2020 or the Special Guidelines on the Provision of Social Amelioration Measures; In case the deceased person was not a resident of the LGU where he/she expired, and/or if the kin is not financially capable of defraying the expenses, and/or if not warranted for transfer to the place of the deceased's origin, the expenses of burial/cremation shall be initially bome by the LGU where he/she expired and be later reimbursed by the concerned LGU where the deceased held permanent residence; 1 DSW Memorandum Circular No, 11 s. 2019 Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of Assistance to Inividuals in Crisis Stuation|7.6. _ The local price coordinating councils shall institute measures to monitor and prevent the overpricing of funeral and cremation services; 7.7. The concemed LGU, or any government employee authorized to administer an oath, shall provide free notarial services to the bereaved family. 8. ON THE TRANSFER OF HUMAN REMAINS: 8.1. As a general rule, no remains of a person who died of dangerous communicable disease shall be transferred from one place to another, 82. The body or remains of any person who died of a dangerous communicable disease shall not be carried from place to place, except for the purpose of burial or cremation (emphasis supplied)". It shall be the duty of the local health authorities to cause such body or remains to be thoroughly disinfected before being prepared for burial; and the house, furniture, wearing apparel, and everything capable of conveying or spreading infection shall also be disinfected; 8.3. The issuance of a permit to transfer the human remains shall be granted only when absolutely necessary, provided that the transfer shall strictly comply with universal, standard and transmission-based precautions required in DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-063 and other relevant issuances, in the handling and transfer of human remains; 84. There shall be no stopover during transport (emphasis supplied), unless in an emergency or when requested at the checkpoints; 85. The person in charge shall ensure that all documents for travel are secured beforehand and copies furnished to the driver or the documenter, in case needed or deemed necessary, such as in passing thru checkpoints; F 86. _ Prior coordination should be done with the concerned LGUs and local authorities; 8.7. Documents to be secured before transport: 8.7.1. Certified True Copy of the death certificate; 87.2, Transfer Permit secured from the Local Health Officer of the Point of origin, and which shall also be secured from other LGUs where the remains will pass, if local ordinances of such LGUs 50 require; 8.7.3. Other documents that the appropriate government agencies might require. 9. COORDINATION: 9.1. All Regional and Local MDM Clusters shall establish protocols and mechanisms on coordination, monitoring, and reporting, to include sharing of critical information for immediate and timely action and advance planning, and maintain close coordination with DOH and its retained hospitals, and other referral facilities within its areas of jurisdiction; 9.2. The hospital, through a designated point person, shall immediately inform the nearest kin of the deceased and/or the Local MDM Cluster Focal Person of the city/municipality of residence once a suspect, probable (PUI), or confirmed COVID-19 patient dies. Simultaneously, if deemed necessary, and in coordination with the next of kin of the deceased, the hospital shall also contact an accredited funeral parlor to facilitate the burial or cremation of the remains, "Section 91 (h) of PD No. 856 and item 4.7.2 (b) ofthe IRR of PD No. 85610. 1. 12. 13. 9.3. _ Inthe event that a cadaver has not been claimed or picked within 6 hours from the time of death, the hospital shall immediately inform the nearest DILG Office of the presence of the unclaimed cadaver. The concerned DILG Office shall facilitate and coordinate with the respective Local MDM Cluster for the burial or cremation of the said cadaver; 9.4. _ Inthe event that a cadaver has not been claimed or picked up for the past 12 hours, the hospital, through the designated point person, shall report the presence of unclaimed bodies to the city/municipal government (ie., place of death). The hospital's designated point person shall provide vital information to the city/municipal government and process the requirements for the unclaimed cadaver. COVID-19 HOTLINE: All LGUs are enjoined to provide a COVID-19 Hotline, which shall also be used by the general public in reporting cases of dead persons as a result of COVID-19, that, in their proper disposition and management, may require the services of government. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE If any provision of this Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting REPEALING CLAUSE All provisions of existing guidelines that are not consistent with this JMC are hereby revised, modified and/or repealed accordingly. 3 EFFECTIVITY This JMC shall take effect immediately upon its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation, and shall remain in full force until repealed or amended accordingly. All DILG and DOH-CHD Regional Directors, BARMM Ministers of Local Government and Health are hereby directed to cause the immediate and widest dissemination of this JMC within their respective jurisdictions. DUQUE Ill MD, MSc etary, DOHANNEX 4 ‘SAMPLE ONLY (Subject to change based on agreements of both parties) RELEASE, WAIVER AND QUITCLAIM KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: |, (Full Name of Claimant), of legal age, (marital status), ino, with postal and residential address at is the designated and/or preferred claimant of the body of (Name of Deceased), after having been duly swom to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state: 1 | am the designated and/or preferred claimant of the body of (Name of Deceased) and principally obliged to arrange the proper and swift interment of the latter. Due to the extraordinary circumstances and danger to our health that the COVID-19 can bring to our family and/or other acquaintances, and that it was physically impossible for me to perform my obligation to the deceased, | have decided not to perform the aforementioned obligation. In consideration of the foregoing circumstance, | hereby release, remise, waive, and forever discharge (Name of the Designated Personnel of the LGU or other persons who will facilitate the burial or cremation of the deceased), and its directors, officers, and employees, from any and all claims or actions of whatever nature whether civil, criminal, administrative or otherwise, or from any claim of any kind or character which had or now have against them on account of said incident. | acknowledge that our family has no cause of action whatsoever against, and its officers, directors, agents, and/or its employees in respect of any matter incident to or arising out of the abovementioned incident. Finally, | declare that | have read this document entitled “Release Waiver and Quitclaim” and fully understood every word of it and its meaning, and that | have affixed my signature hereunder, voluntarily and freely with the full and complete knowledge of the meaning and intent of this document, and of my rights under existing laws. AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NAUGHT. (SIGNATURE OVER THE PRINTED NAME) Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this day of (Month) 2020, affiant exhibiting to me her (name of id ) with ID No. Doe. No. Page No. Book No. Series of 2020.ANNEX 2 SAMPLE ONLY (Subject to change based on agreements of both parties) SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: |, ull Name of Claimant) , of legal age, (marital status), Filipino, with postal and residential address at , is the designated andior preferred claimant of the body of the (Name of the Deceased) and principally obliged to arrange the proper and swift interment of the latter, do hereby name, constitute and appoint as my ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT: (Name of the Designated Personnel of the LGU [i.e if the LGU is in-charge] or other persons i.e preferred agent other than the representative of the LGU of the claimant] who will facilitate the burial or cremation of the deceased), of legal age, Filipinos, and with residential or office address at who is the duly (designation of the agent) of Name of Office/LGU in which the Agent is employed), for me and in my name, place and stead, to act in, manage, and conduct all my affairs in connection with making the necessary acts for the proper and swift final arrangement of the remains of our cadaver and exercise any or all of the related acts and deeds, to wit: 1. To act as my duly authorized agent or representative in making the necessary acts and/or transactions with the appropriate government agency/ies. and funeral/crematorium establishments who is also in-charge in arranging the disposition of the human remains of our cadaver; 2. To enter a contract with the funeral / crematorium establishment and hire the appropriate personnel who shall facilitate the proper burial/éremation of the remains of our cadaver; 3. To duly obtain, request, and/or sign all the related documents in relation to the proper disposal and interment of the remains of our cadaver, 4. To present and identify pertinent documents and information to the appropriate government and/or public agencies, and to testify on matters on my behalf or on behalf of my family that are applicable and relevant to the aforementioned transactions; 5. To act as my duly authorized representative/s at the appropriate office or establishments in relation to said transaction; 6. To enter and sign into any appropriate contracts and/or agreements, compromise agreement or amicable settlement under such terms and conditions that my Attorneys- in-fact may deem just and reasonable under the premises and with full authority to decide on any matter that may be taken up in connection thereto; 7. To submit pertinent documents and present witnesses in support of the said transaction; 8. To make the necessary payment for the funeral, burial/cremation expenses, and other necessary expenses to our designated funera/crematorium establishment or other agencies, but subject for reimbursement if personal money of the agent was shelled out; 9. To submit all the appropriate documents or reports to the concerned agencies ; and 10. To do all other acts, deeds and things in order to fulfil the herein authority given. HEREBY GIVING AND GRANTING unto said Attomeys-in-fact full power and authority whatsoever requisite or necessary or proper to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intent and purposes as | might or could lawfully do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorneys-in-fact may have done by virtue of these presents.In witness whereof, | hereunto set my hands this __ DAY OF MONTH 2020, in the , Philippines. (Signature over the Printed Name-Principal) WE ACCEPT WITH FULL CONSENT AND CONFORMITY: (Signature over the Printed Name- Agent) Signed in the presence of: (Signature over Printed Name) (Signature over Printed _ Name) ACKN NT REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) S.S. City or Municipality (i.e where the document was notarized) ) BEFORE ME, a Notary Public of (City/Municipality where he is commissioned) , personally appeared the parties with their respective identification’cards, all known to me to be the same persons who executed the foregoing instrument and they acknowledged to me that the same are their own free act and voluntary deed, signed by the parties and their witnesses on each page and sealed with my offical seal. Witness my hand and seal, on the date and place above written. Doc. No.. Page No. Book No. Series of 2020.