The bill establishes the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act in Washington State, which facilitates the use of electronic records and signatures for nontestamentary estate planning documents. It defines key terms such as "electronic record," "electronic signature," and "nontestamentary estate planning document," and outlines the legal recognition of these electronic documents, ensuring they cannot be denied legal effect solely based on their electronic form. The bill also clarifies that electronic signatures can satisfy requirements for notarization, witnessing, and attestation, and it allows for the creation of certified paper copies of electronic documents.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law to clarify that electronic records and signatures are applicable to nonjudicial settlement agreements and specifies that the new provisions do not require the use of electronic means for estate planning documents. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining uniformity in the application of the law across jurisdictions and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is found invalid, the remainder remains effective. Overall, the legislation aims to modernize estate planning practices by incorporating electronic methods while maintaining legal integrity.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 1.80.020
Substitute Bill: 1.80.020
Bill as Passed Legislature: 1.80.020
Session Law: 1.80.020