On April 7, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed Executive Order 202.14 to continue the modification and suspension of certain New York State laws relating to the COVID-19 disaster.
In relevant part, the Executive Order extends the provisions tolling the statute of limitations until May 7, 2020 (tolling previously went through April 19, 2020).
Further, the statewide restriction on all non-essential businesses and functions, including the operation of schools, has been extended an additional two weeks to April 29, 2020.
The Executive Order also clarifies the requirements for remote signing of documents such as deeds, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies. The law authorizes the use of audio-visual technology for witnessing if:
• The person requesting that his or her signature be witnessed, if not personally known to the witness, must present valid photo ID to the witness during the video conference (not before or after);
• The video conference must allow for direct interaction between the person and the witness (and the supervising attorney, if applicable);
• The witness must receive a legible copy of the signature page, which may be transmitted via fax or electronically, on the same date that the pages are signed by the person;
• The witness may sign the transmitted copy of the signature page and transmit the same back to the person; and
• The witness may repeat the witnessing of the original signature page as of the date of execution provided the witness receive such original signature pages together with the electronically witnessed copies within thirty days after the date of execution.
The text of the full Executive Order is available here.