§ 474.600 — Estate planning document, execution of — definitions — requirements — acknowledgment, form and content.

Missouri § 474.600

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

Text

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

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

(a)  A will;

(b)  A codicil;

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

(d)  A health care declaration;

(e)  An advance directive;

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

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

(h)  An irrevocable trust;

(i)  A beneficiary deed;

(j)  A nonprobate transfer; or

(k)  A document modifying, amending, correcting, or revoking any written estate planning document;

(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) "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.  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)  The signer affirmatively represented that the signer was physically situated in the state of Missouri;

(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)  The notary identified the signers to the satisfaction of the notary and Missouri law;

(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)  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.  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:

Legislative History

(L. 2025 H.B. 754)