You won’t need to travel anymore if you need certain documents signed, as temporary rules brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic have now been made permanent.
Earlier this spring, four sets of temporary regulations were created to allow for the remote witnessing of certain documents.
Affected regulations include: The Land Titles (Remote Witnessing) Amendment Regulations, 2020; The Powers of Attorney (Remote Witnessing) Amendment Regulations, 2020; The Electronic Information and Documents (Remote Witnessing) Amendment Regulations, 2020; and The Wills Regulations.
Going forward, lawyers will be able to commission sworn documents and witness land registry applications, powers of attorney, and other documents remotely using electronic means. The regulations also permit the remote witnessing of wills using electronic means where one of the two required witnesses is a lawyer.
In the past, the lawyer was required to be physically present to witness the client signing the wills, power of attorney, or land registry application.
“Continuing to allow these documents to be signed remotely will increase access to the justice system through the use of technology,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said in a press release.
More information on wills and estates can be found online.
