Governor Hochul Signs Electronic Wills Act

Calls for Amendments Echoing City Bar Recommendations

Governor Hochul has signed into law legislation that will permit the electronic execution of wills in New York (A.7856‑A/S.7416‑A, the E-Wills Act). Her signature included an approval memo that called for chapter amendments consistent with issues the Commercial Law and Uniform State Laws Committee (Gizem Alper, Chair) had identified in their June report on the bill. The Committee’s report outlined gaps in the bill’s security procedures, deficiencies in remote‑witnessing safeguards, and ambiguities surrounding the definition and filing of electronic wills.

Following the bill’s passage, the Committee worked collaboratively with the bill’s supporters to help shape amendments that would address these concerns while still modernizing New York’s estate planning laws. These conversations ultimately informed revisions to the bill language outlined in the Governor’s approval memo and helped ensure that critical safeguards would be considered in the implementation phase. The Committee welcomes the Governor’s recognition of its concerns and looks forward to continuing its work with policymakers to ensure that New York’s transition to electronic wills is both modern and secure, protecting testators, beneficiaries, and the integrity of the probate process.

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For a full listing of City Bar committee legislative successes in 2025, click here.