Province allows some legal documents to be signed electronically - Action News
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British Columbia

Province allows some legal documents to be signed electronically

The government of B.C. is going toallow for the remote execution of legal documents during the province's COVID-19 pandemic measures.

Lawyers, notaries public to be involved in most instances of remote signing of documents

For the duration of the province's state of emergency, select legal documents such as wills and powers of attorney can be signed remotely. (Shutterstock)

The government of B.C. is going toallow for the remote execution of legal documents during the province's COVID-19 pandemic measures.

Two emergency orders already in effect since Tuesday temporarily suspend in-person signing requirements for wills and personal planning instruments, including representation agreements and enduring powers of attorney.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the province said careful safeguards will be established to reduce fraud.

It said the safeguards willincludeensuring legal professionals such as lawyers and notaries public are involved in most aspects of signinglegal documents remotely.

The current orders are tied to B.C.'s declaredstate of emergency. When the declarationends, the orders will also expire.