The Jersey government has introduced emergency legislation to help people to take steps to put in place Wills and make other estate planning arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new legislation will temporarily relax the formal requirement for two witnesses to be physically present when a Will is signed. Instead the witnessing requirements that are necessary to execute a valid Will may now be completed by audio/video communication.
This is especially important in light of the increase in the number of clients wanting to write new, or update existing, Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney while either self-isolating or remaining within the government's social distancing guidelines.
Wills and Probate Manager Victoria Grogan said: "The new rules set Jersey apart when formalising a Will by ensuring that clients will not be exposed to any increased risks when simply looking to put their affairs in order.
"We welcome the commonsense introduction of the temporary legislation which will help provide peace of mind for clients."
Originally Published 23 April, 2020
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