KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Missouri’s Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act starts on August 28, 2025. This law allows people to create and sign wills and other estate planning documents online.
- The law allows Online Notaries to notarize electronic wills. This makes remote estate planning much easier.
- Fewer than 1 in 3 Americans have a will and modern, secure online workflows can help close that gap.
Audio Summary:
What exactly changed in Missouri?
Missouri enacted the Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act (Sections 474.540–474.564), recognizing electronic wills as legally valid and setting standards for electronic execution, witnessing, and record retention.
The Act applies to people who die on or after August 28, 2025. It also applies to estate planning documents signed or witnessed remotely on or after that date.
Two highlights:
- Electronic wills are valid “for all purposes.”
- A will can be self-proved before a Remote Online Notary (RON) if there are fewer than two witnesses present. This uses a special remote online notarial certificate.
How does this change online notarization of Missouri electronic wills?
Under Section 474.550, Missouri permits Online Notaries to notarize self-proving affidavits for electronic wills.
This is important because notarized self-proving affidavits can prove the will’s validity. They make probate easier by removing the need to find witnesses later. You can now complete the notarization online if the will is electronic and you meet the law’s rules.
Missouri’s new law allows electronic signatures and witnessing for estate planning documents. This includes powers of attorney and trust certifications. Similar laws in other states also support this. This makes it possible to have complete digital workflows that are legal and compliant.
Why does a Missouri law matter nationwide?
Missouri’s move is part of a broader shift:
- Many states have adopted laws recognizing electronic wills or broader electronic estate planning documents. Washington enacted the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act (UEEPDA) in 2024; Oklahoma followed later that year. These acts authorize electronic execution (and notarization) of non-testamentary estate planning documents statewide.
- Most states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA). This law helps executors manage digital assets. It also highlights the importance of having clear digital estate plans.
Missouri’s law speeds up the trend of trusted, remote estate planning. Online notarization is at the center of this change.
How does NotaryLive help with Missouri’s electronic wills law?
Missouri’s statute specifically supports RON-based self-proving affidavits for e-wills. With NotaryLive, you can:
- Schedule and complete RON sessions quickly for self-proving affidavits and other documents your attorney prepares
- Verify identity securely with multi-step checks, knowledge-based authentication, and credential evaluation.
- Work across teams and locations, centralizing sessions and documents via our business features.
Important: NotaryLive is not a law firm. Always work with your attorney when drafting your will. This includes witnessing and notarization needed by Missouri law. For example, you may need a self-proving affidavit for an e-will under § 474.550.
What steps should Missourians take now?
- Talk to your estate planning attorney about switching to an e-will workflow effective Aug 28, 2025. Ask how to structure remote witnessing and a RON-based self-proving affidavit.
- Take stock of your digital assets. This includes accounts, crypto, photos, and password vaults.
- Make sure your plan covers access and control. RUFADAA assists with this in many states.
- Set up your remote notarization process. This way, you can sign affidavits and related forms online as soon as your documents are ready.
Why act now? (The data)
- Only 32% of Americans report having an estate plan, leaving most families exposed to delay and cost. Digital, guided processes can raise completion rates.
Frequently asked questions
Does Missouri now allow fully digital wills? Yes. Electronic wills are valid for all purposes. The law will allow electronic signing, remote witnessing, and record keeping starting on August 28, 2025.
Can my electronic will be self-proved online? Yes. If there are fewer than two witnesses present, Missouri allows a Remote Online Notary to notarize the affidavit. They use a special remote online notarial certificate for this.
Do other states support electronic estate planning too? Yes. Several states (e.g., Washington, Oklahoma) adopted the UEEPDA, and many recognize electronic wills. Most states also enacted RUFADAA, easing fiduciary access to digital assets.
About NotaryLive
NotaryLive is a top provider of digital notarization and eSign solutions. They focus on improving business efficiency.
Their platform is secure and easy to use. It prioritizes understanding and meeting customer needs. By offering innovative tools for electronic signatures and online notarization, NotaryLive empowers professionals to manage documents easily, anywhere, any time.
