Remote Notarization of New Hampshire Estate Planning Documents

Chris Paul Headshot
Christopher R. Paul
Director and Vice-Chair, Trusts & Estates Department
Bill Zorn Headshot
William V.A. Zorn
Director and Vice Chair, Trusts & Estates Department
Published: McLane.com
March 25, 2020

There is good news for New Hampshire clients who need notarized documents and who may be reluctant to sign in the presence of a Notary Public, or are otherwise having difficulty locating one.

Many of our clients have taken this pandemic as an opportunity to step back and give renewed thought to their estate plans.  Our attorneys are completing ongoing estate planning projects and are ready to open new matters and implement changes to existing documents.

On March 23, 2020, Governor Sununu signed Emergency Order 11, which provides authority to New Hampshire notarial officers to perform secure remote notarization of legal documents. T e Order creates an exception to the requirement that the signatory personally appear before the notarial officer.  A notarial officer may now witness an act through video and audio conference where the signatory is at a different physical location.  The Order requires that the notarial officer create and retain an audio and visual recording of the performance of the notarial act.

We are ready to guide you through these requirements, or alternatively, if you are comfortable, to make arrangements for in-office formal execution, witnesses and notarization of your estate planning documents.