By Executive Order 202.48 issued July 6, 2020, New York's remote document execution procedures are extended through August 5, 2020. This came as the previous Executive Order was set to expire, and is welcome news for New Yorkers still dealing with the practical effects of the public health emergency. Governor Cuomo's initial Executive Orders 202.7 (audio-video notarization) and 202.14 (audio-video witnessing of estate planning documents) have now been extended several times, and may be further extended beyond August 5, 2020.
As discussed in our previous alerts here and here, we have been supervising the execution of our clients' Wills and related estate planning documents through the use of audio-video technology for the past few months, allowing for the completion of planning projects while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
Below is a brief update on the status of remote document execution procedures in New Jersey and Connecticut:
NEW JERSEY – On April 14, 2020, Governor Murphy of New Jersey signed a bill (A-3903) allowing for remote notarization of documents for the duration of New Jersey's declared state of emergency resulting from COVID-19. It should be noted, however, that this law does not address the remote execution of documents requiring witnesses, as is the case with most estate planning documents, including Wills and Trust Agreements.
CONNECTICUT – In Connecticut, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order 7ZZ on June 16, 2020, which extended the remote notarization and document execution procedures of Executive Order 7Q (March 30, 2020) for the “duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency, including any period of renewal of such emergency.”
Originally published 07 July, 2020
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