§ 474.560 — Estate planning documents, electronic execution of — procedure.

Missouri § 474.560

• Jurisdiction: Missouri
• Title XXXI: TRUSTS AND ESTATES OF DECEDENTS AND PERSONS UNDER DISABILITY
• Ch. 474: Probate Code — Intestate Succession and Wills

Text

1.  Any written estate planning document may be executed electronically, and no such estate planning document shall be invalid or void solely because it is in electronic form or because it is signed electronically by a settlor, trustee, principal, grantor, declarant, or owner, or by a witness to any such person's signature.  For purposes of this section, "estate planning document" shall include, but not be limited to:

(1)  A power of attorney or durable power of attorney;

(2)  A health care declaration;

(3)  An advance directive;

(4)  A power of attorney for health care or durable power of attorney for health care;

(5)  A revocable trust or amendment thereto, or modification or revocation thereof;

(6)  An irrevocable trust;

(7)  A beneficiary deed;

(8)  A nonprobate transfer; or

(9)  A document modifying, amending, correcting, or revoking any written estate planning document.

2.  (1)  An electronic estate planning document or an electronic signature on such document shall be attributable to a person if it was the act of the person.  The act of the person may be shown in any manner, including a showing of the efficacy of a security procedure applied to determine the person to which the electronic record or signature was attributable.

(2)  The effect of attribution of a document or signature to a person pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be determined from the context and surrounding circumstances at the time of its creation, execution, or adoption and as provided by other provisions of law.

3.  (1)  Unless otherwise provided under its terms, any electronic estate planning document may be signed in one or more counterparts, and each separate counterpart may be an electronic document or a paper document, provided that all signed counterpart pages of each document are incorporated into, or attached to, the document.

(2)  An individual may create a certified paper copy of any such electronic estate planning document by affirming under penalty of perjury that a paper copy of the electronic estate planning document is a complete, true, and accurate copy of such document.  If a provision of law or rule of procedure requires an estate planning document to be presented or retained in its original form or provides legal consequences for the information not being presented or retained in its original form, such provision or rule shall be satisfied by a certified paper copy of an electronic document.

4.  Any written estate planning document, other than a will, that requires one or more witnesses to the signature of a principal may be witnessed by any individual or individuals in the electronic presence of the principal.

5.  A person who acts in reliance upon an electronically executed written estate planning document shall not be liable to any person for so relying and may assume without inquiry the valid execution of the electronically executed written estate planning document.

6.  This section does not require a written estate planning document to be electronically signed.

7.  The laws of this state and principles of equity applicable to any estate planning document shall apply to any electronic estate planning document except as modified by this section.

Legislative History

(L. 2025 H.B. 754)