1. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

   1. (1) "Applicable state of emergency", the period between April 6, 2020, and December 31, 2021, during which a state of emergency existed due to a COVID-19 public health threat, as proclaimed by the governor, and during which executive orders 20-08, 20-10, 20-12, 20-14, 20-19, 21-07, and 21-09 temporarily suspended the physical appearance requirements in this chapter and authorized the use of audio-visual technology to the extent that any Missouri statute required the physical presence of any testator, settlor, principal, witness, notary, or other person necessary for the effective execution of any estate planning document such as a will, trust, or power of attorney, or a self-proving affidavit of the execution of such document, if the conditions set forth in the executive orders were met;

   2. (2) "Estate planning document", includes, but is not limited to:

      1. (a) A will;
      2. (b) A codicil;
      3. (c) A power of attorney or durable power of attorney;
      4. (d) A health care declaration;
      5. (e) An advance directive;
      6. (f) A power of attorney for health care or a durable power of attorney for health care;
      7. (g) A revocable trust or amendment thereto, or modification or revocation thereof;
      8. (h) An irrevocable trust;
      9. (i) A beneficiary deed;
      10. (j) A nonprobate transfer; or
      11. (k) A document modifying, amending, correcting, or revoking any written estate planning document;
   3. (3) "Necessary person", any testator, settlor, grantor, principal, declarant, witness, notary, or other person required for the effective execution of any estate planning document in this state;
   4. (4) "Physical presence requirement", includes, but is not limited to, any requirement of physical presence under section 404.705, 459.015, 474.320, or 474.337, or chapter 486.

2. 2. With respect to the execution of an estate planning document, a necessary person shall be deemed to have satisfied any physical presence requirement under Missouri law during the applicable state of emergency if the following requirements were met:

   1. (1) The signer affirmatively represented that the signer was physically situated in the state of Missouri;
   2. (2) The notary was physically located in the state of Missouri and stated in which county the notary was physically located for the jurisdiction on the acknowledgment;
   3. (3) The notary identified the signers to the satisfaction of the notary and Missouri law;
   4. (4) Any person whose signature was required appeared using video conference software where live, interactive audio-visual communication between the principal, notary, and other necessary person allowed for observation, direct interaction, and communication at the time of signing; and
   5. (5) The notary recorded in the notary's journal the exact time and means used to perform the notarial act, along with all other required information, absent the wet signatures.

3. 3. The requirements of subdivisions (1) to (5) of subsection 2 of this section shall be deemed satisfied if an attorney who is licensed or authorized to practice law in Missouri and who was present at the remote execution signs a written acknowledgment made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of this state, and evidenced by the officer's certificate, under official seal, affixed to or logically associated with the acknowledgment. The form and content of the acknowledgment shall be substantially as follows:

   State of _____

   County of _____

   AFFIDAVIT OF REMOTE EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS

   I, __________, am an attorney licensed or authorized to practice law in the state of Missouri.

   On _____ (date), I convened with the following individuals via video conference software that allowed for live, interactive audio-visual communication between the parties to the conference and that also allowed for observation, direction, interaction, and communication between:

   __________, the (testator, settlor, grantor, principal, or declarant);

   __________, a witness;

   __________, a second witness; and

   __________, a notary public.

   During the conference, __________, the (testator, settlor, grantor, principal, or declarant) signed the following estate planning document or documents: (a will, codicil, power of attorney, durable power of attorney, health care declaration, advance directive, health care power of attorney, revocable trust, irrevocable trust, beneficiary deed, nonprobate transfer, self-proving affidavit of the execution of a will, or a document modifying, amending, correcting, or revoking one of these estate planning documents).

   All the parties to the conference represented that they were physically located in the state of Missouri at the time of the signing.

   I have reviewed and am familiar with the requirements of the applicable executive order or orders in effect at the time and affirm that the remote execution of the estate planning document or documents met all the requirements of the applicable executive order or orders.

   In witness whereof I, an officer authorized to administer oaths, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal this _____ (date).

   (Signed) _______________________

   (SEAL) _______________________

   (Official capacity of officer)

(L. 2025 H.B. 754)