In these complicated times, people still have vital estate planning and other financial needs requiring notarized and witnessed documentation. Indeed, the current circumstances have motivated many to get vital documents executed as soon as possible. To facilitate this, there has been a push for emergency legislation temporarily allowing remote notarization of such documents.
Under current Massachusetts law, notaries and signers of documents such as wills and deeds must meet face-to-face for the notarization and/or witnessing. Such a requirement has become unworkable and unsafe during this coronavirus crisis given that the way to curb the spread of the virus is social distancing.
Recognizing the profound impact that stay-at-home orders, social distancing protocols, and non-essential business closures will have on clients’ and practitioners’ ability to properly execute estate plans and other important legal documents, a motivated group of practitioners began advocating for legislation authorizing remote notarization. While the particulars are still in flux, the legislation would allow for execution and notarization of documents via videoconferencing.
Stay tuned for future updates from us as they come. In the meantime, we encourage practitioners, clients, and all interested persons to contact their state legislators to encourage them to move the bill forward. Click here to find your legislators.
