Global Evolution of Electronic Wills and COVID-19
Digital technology is an integral part of today’s legal industry. The last 10 years have been transformative for the practice of law with strides forward in everything from legal research to practice management to trial...more
In response to COVID-19, courts were forced to adapt to the pandemic and adopt new rules regarding in-person and remote proceedings. The list below contains links to each state’s laws and rules related to remote proceedings....more
In 2021 and 2022, I wrote about Surrogate’s Court decisions that addressed the admission of remotely witnessed wills to probate in New York State. Since then, Surrogate’s Courts have issued at least two more decisions...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
Proper completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 is one of the most important responsibilities of employers, including manufacturers, at the beginning of the hiring process. Saying it learned from the...more
Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published its new I-9 regulations, which will take effect next Tuesday, August 1. The regulations have two components: (1) a remote I-9 document examination procedure, and (2)...more
Employers are reportedly urging the Biden Administration to delay the current August 30 deadline for in person re-inspections of I-9 documents that were submitted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic....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
In January 2021, I wrote about Broome County Surrogate David H. Guy’s decision in Matter of Ryan, in which Surrogate Guy addressed the admission of a remotely witnessed will to probate in New York State. Recently, in Matter...more
On January 1, 2022, the Washington Uniform Electronic Wills Act (“Act”) took effect and in so doing brought estate planning documents into the 21st century. The Act modifies existing requirements in order to enable people to...more
On March 26, 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic spreading throughout Illinois, Governor Pritzker signed Executive Order 2020-14 (the “Executive Order”), which, among other things, authorized wills and other testamentary estate...more
The UK Home Office has announced that the temporary COVID-19 adjusted right-to-work checks have been extended to 5 April 2022 following the positive feedback on remote checks. ...more
More than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, lawyers have become pretty comfortable taking and defending virtual depositions, including preparing a witness remotely. Even though remote depositions will become less frequent as...more
The UK Home Office announced that on 17 May 2021 the COVID-19 right-to-work concession allowing employers to conduct right-to-work checks by video call will end. ...more
At the beginning of 2020, arguing hearings and trying cases in a completely remote environment seemed like science fiction. Now, just a year later, courts and litigants have adapted to our new virtual litigation environment....more
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the benefits of post-death planning, whilst also giving individuals the much-needed down-time to reflect on their wishes. This has brought about a flurry of requests for new wills to be...more
As many workplaces have shifted to remote work arrangements, human resources personnel, in-house lawyers, and other workplace investigators are conducting more remote workplace investigations. Remote investigations may...more
As we approach the one year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding shutdowns, we continue to see some of the provisions set forth in the Governor’s Executive Orders gaining support and permanency via statute...more
As we are moving up yet another hill on the pandemic case-count rollercoaster, hopefully the last rise before the final descent into a vaccine landing zone, courts are once again pulling back in–person trials, while lawyers...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
The COVID-19 pandemic has had another, less-discussed effect on hospitals. Hearings that traditionally take place in hospitals – such as guardianships, retention, medication over objection, or assisted outpatient hearings –...more
Listen to our digital planning podcast and learn about all things digital as to estate planning, business planning, and estate administration. Your hosts, attorneys Jennifer Zegel, Ross Bruch, and Justin Brown, will guide you...more
Attentive readers will recall that a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned in a preface to great post from Chris about expungement becoming an endangered creature due to changes in FINRA rule that I was about to embark on a...more
UPDATE: By Executive Order 202.67 dated October 4, 2020, Governor Cuomo has further extended his prior orders permitting the use of audio-visual technology for notarization and witnessing, as provided below, through November...more
In a time of social isolation can litigation still be used to bring parties together to resolve problems? Are there advantages to the technology being relied upon by the courts and mediators and are clients and litigators...more