If you created an estate plan remotely during the pandemic, there’s good news — the governor’s executive orders permitting remote signing during the coronavirus crisis are now in the permanent law.
On June 12, Governor Pritzker signed SB 2135, the Government Emergency Administration Act, the law that gives statutory approval to the governor’s emergency executive order issued March 26. The order allows people to complete remote notarization through video calls and to sign off on legal documents that require witnesses remotely. That means that people who created plans using these remote services during the pandemic can rest easy that they will remain valid.
There were worries in the estate planning legal community that a legal challenge to the governor’s original executive orders might invalidate any legal actions taken, such as remote signings of estate planning documents. Now that the Illinois legislature has created a law validating those orders, all remotely signed estate plans will remain valid.
Didn’t get around to planning quite yet? You still have time to do it remotely. The state is still under a declaration of emergency for COVID-19, and once that declaration expires, remote witnessing and notarization will be available for 30 more days. You can read the full text of the law here.
Reach out if you need help doing your own planning from the comfort of your own home. We’re here to help.
