Executive Order 2020-41 Allows Remote Witnessing and Notarization
Electronic signatures, remote notarizations, remote witness attestations and acknowledgments, and remote visitations are now permitted under Executive Order 2020-41, signed by Governor Whitmer on April 8, 2020. This Executive Order is effective through May 6, 2020, and ensures that necessary transactions and interactions may continue to occur during this time of crisis without unduly compromising the health and safety of those performing these transactions.
This means that you can sign important documents, like wills, trusts, durable powers of attorneys and designations of patient advocate, deeds, and other business and financial documents requiring a witness or notary safely from your own home. Further, notaries public and necessary witnesses can handle these transactions safely from their homes, too.
There are specific conditions that must be met under Executive Order 2020-41, but the attorneys at Fraser Trebilcock are ready and available to help you. Now is the perfect time to contact your attorney to discuss updating your estate planning documents and getting your business and financial affairs in order, all from the comfort and safety of your own home.
We have created a response team to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and the law and guidance that follows, so we will continue to post any new developments. You can view our COVID-19 Response Page and additional resources by following the link here. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact your Fraser Trebilcock attorney.
If you would like to talk with an attorney about putting legal plans in place, contact attorney Melisa M. W. Mysliwiec. Melisa focuses her work in the areas of Elder Law and Medicaid planning, estate planning, and trust and estate administration. She can be reached at mmysliwiec@fraserlawfirm.com or 616-301-0800.