It’s Christmas come early in Virginia this year. As of July 1, 2024, attorneys in Virginia can officially (and permanently!) use electronic signatures to sign pleadings in Virginia’s state courts. It only took twenty-plus...more
On October 17, 2023, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated its Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) to fully incorporate into the IRM certain e-signature policies and procedures permitting the use of electronic signatures...more
In 2020, North Carolina passed a temporary law authorizing Emergency Video Notarization (“EVN”) to alleviate the requirement that notaries be in the physical presence of signers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This law was set...more
On December 29, 2022, the IRS issued proposed regulations that would permanently allow retirement plans to accept remote participant elections and spousal consents. PROPOSED REGULATIONS STEM FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC-...more
Many tasks that were relatively easy to accomplish became nearly impossible during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while much of everyday life has returned to “normal,” some modifications to accommodate social...more
Virtual notary services will continue in Massachusetts through December 20, 2021, following the extension of the Virtual Notarization Act on June 16th. Originally approved on April 23, 2020, Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2020...more
E-Signatures and Remote Online Notarization: The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (“UETA”) proposed by the Uniform Law Commission (“ULC”) in 1999 presented ways for states to effectuate electronic signatures with the...more
Digital technologies are paving the way for more convenient and efficient transactions. Paper documents and wet-ink signatures are being replaced by their electronic equivalents, and “in-person” appearances can now be...more
E-Signatures and Remote Online Notarization: - The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (“UETA”) proposed by the Uniform Law Commission (“ULC”) in 1999 presented ways for states to effectuate electronic signatures with the...more
The Covid-19 pandemic has created numerous challenges for retirement plan administrators. One such challenge is how to comply with the requirement to obtain a participant’s written signature to get a distribution from a...more
(Original Article dated April 14, 2020) - UPDATE: By Executive Order 202.72 dated November 3, 2020, Governor Cuomo has further extended his prior orders permitting the use of audio-visual technology for notarization and...more
Remote executions of estate planning documents are again allowed in Michigan through December 31, 2020. On November 5, 2020, Michigan’s Governor signed 2020 PA 246, allowing remote witnessing, and 2020 PA 249, allowing...more
UPDATE: By Order 202.48 dated July 6, 2020, the Governor has further extended prior orders permitting the use of audio-visual technology for notarization and witnessing, as provided below, through August 5, 2020....more
UPDATE: By an order dated June 6, 2020, the use of audio-visual technology for notarization and witnessing as provided below is permitted until July 6, 2020. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, certain states are adjusting rules by...more
UPDATE: By an order dated May 28, 2020, the use of audio-visual technology for notarization and witnessing as provided below is permitted until June 27, 2020....more
As we continue to conduct business virtually, non-traditional means of document execution are becoming increasingly popular. It is critical, however, to understand the laws and requirements associated with these...more
Governor Whitmer signed Michigan Executive Order No 2020-41 on April 8, 2020, allowing the use of virtual platforms to "enable and encourage the use of electronic signatures, remote notarizations, remote witness attestations...more