[WSBARP] Signatures and Notaries in the Age of Covid-19

[Dwight Bickel]

The Washington Land Title Association and the American Land Title Ass’n have been working for years to implement remote online notary authority in Washington. We do finally have the needed laws, but not effective until October. The Washington Ass’n of Realtors and the WLTA are asking Governor Inslee to implement those laws now, so we can effectively compete in the national wave of that logical new alternative to cumbersome notary acknowledgement procedures. It would also avoid the “personally appeared before me” that is causing a tremendous amount of difficulty in the present virus contagion. Signing closing documents often cannot be postponed to a more convenient time. Some of those acknowledgements are older people in care facilities. WLTA is requesting the Real Property Section members to join our appeal to the Governor.



 What we really need is for both SB 5641 on RON and SB 6028 on UETA to go into effect right now.



I think it is reasonable and within his powers for the health and welfare of WA citizens.



Dwight A. Bickel

Washington Title Professional
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