New Zealand Law Society - Executing and witnessing important documents
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The Law Society sought an addition to the level 3 Public Health Orders to allow legal services to be executed face to face. This has been provided for in the new Order for limited situations.
Legal Services are now listed as permitted “in-home services” if the “legal services” is to execute documents and:
If a lawyer delivers this service it must be in compliance with the Amendment Order and the Principal Public Health Order and the safety precautions outlined in these Orders. Further detailed guidance will be available shortly.
The Government’s announcement on Monday 23 March 2020 of a Level 4 self-isolation regime in response to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that businesses and individuals had to find alternative ways of signing important documents. In this article we discuss some of the problems with and suggest some potential solutions to executing and witnessing important documents.
In recent years the advance of technology has challenged the underlying principles of execution and witnessing. The main purpose of witnessing is authentication that the document was signed by the signatory. Authentication is limited to the fact of signing by a particular person, but not the contents of the document, that the person signing is who they say they are, nor the signatory’s state of mind, or understanding of the nature and contents of the document being signed. However, in relation to some types of documents (eg, wills, enduring powers of attorney, and relationship property agreements) lawyers are often required to certify as to those things as well.
Witnessing might serve as an extra check against forgery or duress, though it is arguable whether human-to-human interaction is still – or always – the best way to achieve this objective.
In relation to those documents where it is necessary to confirm that the person signing is who they say they are, the signatory is of sound mind and understands the nature and contents of the document being signed, then human-to-human interaction remains the best way to achieve this objective.
The use of electronic signatures has already become common and it is likely to increase. The general position under New Zealand law is that a legal requirement for a signature is met by an electronic signature, provided that:
In practice, the following documents can be signed electronically:
There are number of documents that cannot be signed using an electronic signature. A list of examples is provided at section 5 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017. These include, but are not limited to:
Yes. An electronically signed document can constitute an ‘original’ document provided the electronic signature reliably assures the integrity of the document.
Where a person other than the actual signatory inserts an electronic signature into a document on behalf of the signatory, the usual rules of agency apply. The signatory must give the agent authority to add the electronic signature on their behalf.
In this circumstance, best practice is for the signatory to provide email confirmation that the agent has authority to insert their electronic signature into the relevant document on their behalf.
The following additional steps may also support the validity of documents signed while in self-isolation:
Wills can now be signed by audio-visual link in New Zealand. The Government has implemented an immediate modification order on the requirements for signing and witnessing wills. In effect, this has made a temporary law change to modify the requirements for signing and witnessing wills under section 11 of the Wills Act 2007.
The Epidemic Preparedness (Wills Act 2007—Signing and Witnessing of Wills) Immediate Modification Order 2020 (the ‘Wills IMO’), is a temporary order that was made under the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006. The Wills IMO modifies the witnessing requirements of the Wills Act 2007 that may be impossible or impracticable to comply with during an epidemic. The effect of the Wills IMO is that a will can be made under isolation even where a person does not have two suitable witnesses in their bubble and allows for audio-visual links from one or more places to meet the witnessing requirements.
The Order came into force on 17 April 2020 and is revoked when the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 expires or is revoked.
Immediate modification orders are issued under section 15 of the Epidemic Preparedness Act. They can be implemented where there is a statutory requirement or restriction that is impossible or impracticable to comply with during an epidemic.
Immediate modification orders cannot be used to substantially rewrite parts of the law. They come into force as a temporary Order in Council, agreed to by Cabinet and they have an expiry date. This is known as an Epidemic Notice.
The Wills IMO allows wills to be signed and witnessed using audio-visual links (eg, Zoom, Skype, Facetime, etc).
Photographs or scans of the signed copies must be sent as soon as practical to a person who has been chosen to hold the document and all photographs or scans of signed copies of the will. If a lawyer or trust company has been involved in preparing and witnessing the will, they can hold the document and all photographs or scans of signed copies of the will.
The changes made are temporary. The Wills IMO will expire after the Epidemic Notice is lifted, and the law will return to normal.
After the will-maker signs a copy of the will, they must take a photograph or scan it and send that to the person designated to hold the will (the physical document, and photographs or scans of all the signed copies) with no delay.
It is a good idea to hold onto the physical copy which has ben signed and keep it somewhere safe.
A will made while the Epidemic Notice is in force and which follows the modified requirements for signing and witnessing is a valid will. The will-maker does not need to make another will unless they want to change or revoke their will.
This change only applies to wills made while the Epidemic Notice is in force. Once the Epidemic Notice is lifted, the law will return to normal.
If a will is made while the Epidemic Notice is in force and the will-maker cannot get it signed and witnessed either in-person or by audio-visual link because of the restrictions in place, they can get it signed and witnessed after restrictions have ended.
It is a good idea to let the people they want to be witnesses know that they want them to witness it after restrictions have ended and make it clear in the document that they cannot get it witnessed due to the epidemic. The will does not comply with the formal requirements until it has been signed and witnessed.
However, the Wills Act 2007 allows the High Court to make an order declaring a will to be valid even if it doesn’t comply with the formal requirements, if it is satisfied that the document expresses the deceased person’s intentions.
The Wills Act 2007 allows the High Court to make an order declaring a will to be valid even if it doesn’t comply with the formal requirements, if it is satisfied that the document expresses the deceased person’s intentions.
The Government has made a temporary law change to modify the requirements for signing and witnessing oaths, affirmations and declarations under the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 (the ‘Oaths and Affirmations IMO’) . The Epidemic Preparedness (Oaths and Declarations Act 1957) Immediate Modification Order 2020 amends the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957, which sets out the requirements for making oaths and affirmations (such as affidavits) and statutory declarations.
The change makes it clear that there is no requirement for a person taking oaths, affirmations or declarations to be in the physical presence of those making them. The person witnessing the oath, declaration or affirmation is also not required to physically sign the same document as the person making it.
Instead, oaths, affirmations or declarations can be administered using audio-visual or audio links, such as over Skype, Zoom, Facetime, or over the phone.
Other requirements for taking oaths, affirmations, and statutory declarations remain the same. It will still be important for the person taking the oath, affirmation or declaration to be sure that:
The Oaths and Affirmations IMO also allows entities that receive statutory declarations to authorise some of their employees to take statutory declarations instead of a lawyer, Justice of the Peace, Deputy Registrar in a court or other person who would usually do that. This is because people may find it harder than usual to find someone to take their statutory declarations. Entities authorising their staff to do this should make sure that staff are trained in the process outlined below and that staff don’t take declarations where they may have a conflict of interest with the person making it.
The changes made by the Oaths and Affirmations IMO are temporary. The Oaths and Affirmations IMO will expire after the Epidemic Notice is lifted, and the law will return to normal.
The best way is to set up a meeting about the oath, affirmation or declaration via audio-visual link (eg, Skype, Zoom, etc) if this technology is available. Using an audio-visual link usually makes easier to for the person taking the oath, affirmation or declaration to be confident about things like:
A person taking an oath, affirmation or declaration this way may need to take some extra steps so they can be sure the usual requirements are satisfied. The person taking the oath, affirmation or declaration should check:
Not everyone has access to an audio-visual link. For this reason the Oaths and Affirmations IMO also allows the use of audio-link, such as a phone.
Some extra steps may be needed to satisfy the usual requirements over the phone. A person taking an oath, affirmation or declaration over the phone may want to:
The person making the oath, affirmation or declaration should sign the document during the audio-visual or audio link.
As soon as possible after that, the person must send it to the person taking the oath, affirmation or declaration (the witness) so that they can also sign it. The document can be scanned or photographed and sent electronically. At Alert Levels 1-3, it could also be posted or couriered. At Alert Level 4, the document can be posted or couriered if it is an essential good (for example, because it relates to priority court or tribunal proceedings).
The person taking the oath, affirmation or affidavit can also note on the document that it was taken by audio or audio-visual link.
The change does not require the person taking the oath, affirmation or declaration to also sign a certificate setting out the circumstances in which the oath, affirmation or declaration was made. It may still be a good idea to do that to give the court or entity receiving the oath, affirmation or declaration confidence that the requirements have been complied with.
If a person does not have a printer, it may be possible for them to write out the oath, affirmation or declaration by hand. At Alert Levels 1-3, it could also be posted or couriered. At Alert Level 4, the document can be posted or couriered if it is an essential good (for example, because it relates to priority court or tribunal proceedings).
Yes, but only while the Epidemic Notice is in force in New Zealand.
To allow the execution of an enduring powers of attorney (‘EPA’) in self-isolation conditions, the Government has made a temporary law change to modify the requirements for signing and witnessing enduring powers of attorney under section 94A of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988. The Epidemic Preparedness (Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988-Enduring Powers of Attorney) Immediate Modification Order 2020 came into effect on 24 April 2020 and applies to EPAs made from that date until the end of the Epidemic Notice.
EPAs can now be signed and witnessed using audio-visual links (for example, Zoom, Skype, Facetime, etc) where normally this would need to be done in person.
All of the following ways of witnessing can be done by audio-visual link:
All people signing a copy of the EPA must make it clear on the copy that it is signed this way because an Epidemic Notice is in force.
Photographs or scans of the signed copies must be sent as soon as practical to a person who has been chosen to hold the EPA. If a lawyer or trust company has been involved in preparing and witnessing your EPA, they can hold the document and all photographs or scans of signed copies of the EPA.
After a copy of the EPA is signed, the signatory must take a photograph, or scan it, and send that to the person designated to hold the EPA (the physical document, and photographs or scans of all the signed copies) as soon as possible.
They may also send the physical document to the person holding the EPA by post or courier, especially if the photograph or scan is not high quality. All the electronic or physical copies need to be kept somewhere safe.
An EPA made while the Epidemic Notice is in force following the modified requirements for signing and witnessing is a valid EPA. However, it is best practice for parties to sign the same copy of the EPA when it is safe to do so. It may be easier to use a single document later rather than showing that the multiple signed versions make up a valid EPA.
No, this change only applies to EPAs made while the Epidemic Notice is in force. Once the Epidemic Notice is lifted, the law will return to normal
An EPA made while the Epidemic Notice is in force which the maker cannot get signed and witnessed either in person or by audio-visual link because of the restrictions in place, can be signed and witnessed after restrictions have ended.
It is good advice for the maker to let the people they want to be their attorney(s) and their authorised witnesses know that they intend for them to sign and witness their EPA after restrictions have ended and to make it clear in the EPA that they cannot get it witnessed due to the Epidemic Notice. The EPA does not comply with the formal requirements until it has been signed and witnessed.
However, the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 allows the Family Court to decide whether a document is an EPA, including whether it has come into effect and the donor had the required capacity (ie, was able to understand the nature and consequences of making an EPA) at the time the EPA was made.
The Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 allows the Family Court to decide whether a document is an EPA, including whether it has come into effect and the donor had the required capacity (ie, was able to understand the nature and consequences of making an EPA) at the time the EPA was made. The Family Court also has the ability to make personal and property orders for people who lack the mental capacity to make their own personal care, welfare, and property decisions.
Deeds can be signed using an electronic signature, but there are important formalities to consider.
In the case of deeds, an agent cannot insert an electronic signature on behalf of the signatory. This is because authority to execute a deed on behalf of someone can only be given by deed, typically by power of attorney. In the absence of a power of attorney, the signatory’s electronic signature must be inserted into a deed by the actual signatory.
For a New Zealand company, a deed must normally be signed by two directors, or where there is only one director the deed must be signed by the director in the presence of a witness. In the case of two directors, each director can sign in counterparts using an electronic signature. However, if a sole director is signing in the presence of a witness, the witness must first observe the director’s signature (whether that be electronically or by hand), before signing the deed themselves. The witness may be physically present or they may witness over audio-visual technology. All requirements in relation to witnesses will still apply, they should not be party to the deed and should be adequately identified by stating their name, address and occupation.
The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 and the Identity Verification Code of Practice require lawyers performing “captured activities” to verify the identity of their clients. In practice most lawyers fulfil these obligations by examining original documentation and/or “wet ink” versions of certified copies of the same when carrying out due diligence on prospective clients.
The Reserve Bank, Financial Markets Authority and Department of Internal Affairs are the sector supervisors of businesses who are within the scope of the anti-money laundering regime (which group also includes financial institutions, accountants, real estate agents, and high value goods dealers). To their credit the supervisors were swift to respond to the COVID-19 situation and issued the following guidance:
“Ongoing customer due diligence and account monitoring requirements continue to apply in all circumstances.
“However, because the law prescribes a risk-based approach there is discretion to not necessarily sight certain documents in certain circumstances, depending on the assessment of money laundering risk.
“This means, for example, that scanned copies of documents could be accepted as an interim measure, with the originals to be sighted at a later time (eg, upon lifting of alert levels).
“There are also existing mechanisms within the law which permit delayed verification of due diligence documents and which may be applicable to the COVID-19 situation.
“There is also provision in the law and code for electronic verification of documents (albeit there are limitations with some of the technology platforms that perform this function).
“Law firms should have exceptions handling provisions for circumstances where a client is unable to provide their original identity documents. With COVID-19 alert levels in place, this is a time when exception handling measures could be engaged.”
What about agreements contracting out of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 whilst in self-isolation conditions?
Even before the issues caused by COVID-19 the question often arose as to whether a lawyer can witness a party signing a contracting out or settlement agreement under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 by Video Conferencing (eg, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc).
The Law Commission partially addressed the issue in its recent Report on the Review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 by commenting that the law is uncertain and if an agreement is witnessed via an audio visual communication, there is a risk that the agreement could be set aside and the lawyer sued for negligence if the agreement was voided for lack of compliance with the prescribed formalities set out in the legislation.
So the use of video conferencing for this purpose is not forbidden but it does come with some risks. These risks could be mitigated through the inclusion in the agreement of specific wording such as that set out below:
[A] and [B] agree that either party may sign this agreement and have his or her signature witnessed by his or her solicitor via live video conference at which both the party and his or her solicitor are present.
If either or both [A] or [B] sign this agreement and have his or her signature witnessed by his or her solicitor via live video conference, they will sign an undertaking, in the form set out in Schedule 2, to the other party’s solicitor that the document that he or she has signed via live video conference is the same copy of this agreement as subsequently forwarded to that party’s solicitor.
Both [A] and [B] confirm that they accept that this agreement is valid taking into account the witnessing to either party’s signature by live video conference and both parties agree that they will not seek to have this agreement declared void pursuant to section 21F of the Act.
The form of the undertakings to be exchanged could include wording similar to that set out below:
To: [Law Firm B]
I, [A], personally undertake that I signed the agreement contracting out of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 between [B] and myself on at , during which time I was alone in the room and in a live video conference with my solicitor, [-] of [Law Firm A], who witnessed my signature via live video conference, and that immediately upon signing the agreement I posted it to [him/her], without any amendment.
Signed:
_________________________________
[A]
Dated:
To: [Law Firm A]
I, [B], personally undertake that I signed the agreement contracting out of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 between [A] and myself on at , during which time I was alone in the room and in a live video conference with my solicitor, [-] of [Law Firm B], who witnessed my signature via live video conference, and that immediately upon signing the agreement I posted it to [him/her], without any amendment.
Signed:
_________________________________
[B]
The lawyer should then ask the signatory to expressly confirm that no one else is present in the room and use the camera to confirm this at the time.As each party signs each page of the agreement then s/he should lift each page to the camera so that the lawyer can confirm that that was the page signed rather than another document. This is another situation where it may be appropriate to record the meeting.
What about agreements contracting out of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 whilst in self-isolation conditions?
Even before the issues caused by COVID-19 the question often arose as to whether a lawyer can witness a party signing a contracting out or settlement agreement under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 by Video Conferencing (eg, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc).
The Law Commission partially addressed the issue in its recent Report on the Review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 by commenting that the law is uncertain and if an agreement is witnessed via an audio visual communication, there is a risk that the agreement could be set aside and the lawyer sued for negligence if the agreement was voided for lack of compliance with the prescribed formalities set out in the legislation.
So the use of video conferencing for this purpose is not forbidden but it does come with some risks. These risks could be mitigated through the inclusion in the agreement of specific wording such as that set out below:
[A] and [B] agree that either party may sign this agreement and have his or her signature witnessed by his or her solicitor via live video conference at which both the party and his or her solicitor are present.
If either or both [A] or [B] sign this agreement and have his or her signature witnessed by his or her solicitor via live video conference, they will sign an undertaking, in the form set out in Schedule 2, to the other party’s solicitor that the document that he or she has signed via live video conference is the same copy of this agreement as subsequently forwarded to that party’s solicitor.
Both [A] and [B] confirm that they accept that this agreement is valid taking into account the witnessing to either party’s signature by live video conference and both parties agree that they will not seek to have this agreement declared void pursuant to section 21F of the Act.
The form of the undertakings to be exchanged could include wording similar to that set out below:
To: [Law Firm B]
I, [A], personally undertake that I signed the agreement contracting out of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 between [B] and myself on at , during which time I was alone in the room and in a live video conference with my solicitor, [-] of [Law Firm A], who witnessed my signature via live video conference, and that immediately upon signing the agreement I posted it to [him/her], without any amendment.
Signed:
_________________________________
[A]
Dated:
To: [Law Firm A]
I, [B], personally undertake that I signed the agreement contracting out of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 between [A] and myself on at , during which time I was alone in the room and in a live video conference with my solicitor, [-] of [Law Firm B], who witnessed my signature via live video conference, and that immediately upon signing the agreement I posted it to [him/her], without any amendment.
Signed:
_________________________________
[B]
The lawyer should then ask the signatory to expressly confirm that no one else is present in the room and use the camera to confirm this at the time.As each party signs each page of the agreement then s/he should lift each page to the camera so that the lawyer can confirm that that was the page signed rather than another document. This is another situation where it may be appropriate to record the meeting.
The speed with which the COVID-19 situation has evolved has taken us all (including law makers) by surprise. In some respects the law has developed sufficiently in the digital age to deal with the challenges of self-isolation, particularly in relation to the execution of commercial documents.
However, for very good public policy reasons (such as the prevention of undue influence and other abuses of power) the law is not quite so permissive in relation to the execution of documents such as relationship property agreements, wills and enduring powers of attorney. In normal circumstances this generally means that private client lawyers conduct much of their business with clients in meetings. Obviously, this becomes more difficult when self-isolation rules are imposed.
Unlike many commercial activities, the natural course of human life (eg, births, deaths, loss of capacity, and family quarrels) continues and may even be exacerbated by pandemics, earthquakes, and similar catastrophes. Lawmakers in New Zealand have alleviated the situation by enacting emergency legislation to deal with some of these issues.
Henry Brandts-Giesen henry.giesen@dentons.com is a partner with Dentons Kensington Swan and Indiana Shewen Indiana.shewen@dentons.com is a law graduate with the firm.