Bill > HB178

This bill establishes legal provisions to validate estate planning documents executed during the COVID-19 state of emergency (specifically between April 6, 2020, and December 31, 2021) that were created using remote or virtual methods. The bill defines various terms including "estate planning document" (which covers wills, powers of attorney, trusts, health care directives, and other legal documents related to estate planning) and creates a framework for retroactively legalizing documents that were signed using video conferencing technology when traditional in-person signing was not possible. To be considered valid, these documents must meet specific requirements, such as all parties representing they were physically located in Missouri, using interactive video conference software, having a notary present who can identify signers, and maintaining a record of the remote execution. Additionally, the bill provides a detailed affidavit template that an attorney can complete to further validate the remote execution of these estate planning documents, which can be signed before an authorized officer and includes specific details about the video conference and participants. The goal is to ensure that estate planning documents created during the pandemic's emergency period are legally recognized and enforceable.

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https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB178&year=2025&code=R