WI Supreme Court Denies Petition To Allow Certain Estate Planning Documents To Be Witnessed Remotely
The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section filed an emergency request for a temporary order that would permit remote witnessing of certain estate planning documents in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the Court ruled that an emergency request is not the appropriate way to determine whether the statutes allow for remote witnessing.
WI Supreme Court Order Allowing Remote Depositions Extended to May 22
The temporary order issued March 25 expired on April 30, but is now extended to May 22. It allows court reporters to take depositions remotely, outside the physical presence of a witness for the purposes of administering an oath, as long as the court reporter can both “see and hear the witness via audio-visual communications equipment for purposes of readily identifying the witness.”