FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.180
103RDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVEPARKER.
0155H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsections456.1-108and456.10-1005,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofsixteen
newsectionsrelatingtoestateplanning.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Sections456.1-108and456.10-1005,RSMo,arerepealedandsixteennew
2sectionsenactedinlieuthereof,tobeknownassections456.1-108,456.10-1005,474.540,
3474.542,474.544,474.546,474.548,474.550,474.552,474.554,474.556,474.558,474.560,
4474.562,474.564,and474.600,toreadasfollows:
456.1-108.1.Withoutprecludingothermeansforestablishingasufficient
2connectionwiththedesignatedjurisdiction,termsofatrustdesignatingtheprincipalplaceof
3administrationarevalidandcontrollingif:
4 (1)atrustee'sprincipalplaceofbusinessislocatedinoratrusteeisaresidentofthe
5designatedjurisdiction;or
6 (2)allorpartoftheadministrationoccursinthedesignatedjurisdiction.
7 2.Withoutprecludingtherightofthecourttoorder,approve,ordisapprovea
8transfer,thetrusteemaytransferthetrust'sprincipalplaceofadministrationtoanotherstateor
9toajurisdictionoutsideoftheUnitedStatesthatisappropriatetothetrust'spurposes,its
10administration,andtheinterestsofthebeneficiaries.
11 3.Thetrusteeshallnotifythequalifiedbeneficiariesofaproposedtransferofatrust's
12principalplaceofadministrationnotlessthansixtydaysbeforeinitiatingthetransfer.The
13noticeofproposedtransfermustinclude:
14 (1)thenameofthejurisdictiontowhichtheprincipalplaceofadministrationistobe
15transferred;
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 16 (2)theaddressandtelephonenumberatthenewlocationatwhichthetrusteecanbe
17contacted;
18 (3)anexplanationofthereasonsfortheproposedtransfer;
19 (4)noticethatachangeintheplaceofadministrationmayresultinachangeof
20governinglaw,whichmayaffecttherightsofbeneficiariesinwaysthataredifferent
21fromcurrentgoverninglaw;
22 (5)thedateonwhichtheproposedtransferisanticipatedtooccur;and
23 [(5)](6)thedate,notlessthansixtydaysafterthegivingofthenotice,bywhichthe
24qualifiedbeneficiarymustnotifythetrusteeofanobjectiontotheproposedtransfer.
25 4.Theauthorityofatrusteeunderthissectiontotransferatrust'sprincipalplaceof
26administrationwithoutanorderofacourtterminatesifaqualifiedbeneficiarynotifiesthe
27trusteeofanobjectiontotheproposedtransferonorbeforethedatespecifiedinthenotice.
28 5.Inconnectionwithatransferofthetrust'sprincipalplaceofadministration,the
29trusteemaytransfersomeorallofthetrustpropertytoasuccessortrusteedesignatedinthe
30termsofthetrustorappointedpursuanttosection456.7-704.
456.10-1005.1.Abeneficiarymaynotcommenceaproceedingagainstatrusteefor
2breachoftrustmorethanoneyearafterthelasttooccurofthedatethebeneficiaryora
3representativeofthebeneficiarywassentareportthatadequatelydisclosedtheexistenceofa
4potentialclaimforbreachoftrustandthedatethetrusteeinformedthebeneficiaryofthetime
5allowedforcommencingaproceedingwithrespecttoanypotentialclaimadequately
6disclosedonthereport.
7 2.Areportadequatelydisclosestheexistenceofapotentialclaimforbreachoftrust
8ifitprovidessufficientinformationsothatthebeneficiaryorrepresentativeknowsofthe
9potentialclaimorshouldhaveinquiredintoitsexistence.
10 3.Ifsubsection1ofthissectiondoesnotapply,ajudicialproceedingbyabeneficiary
11againstatrusteeforbreachoftrustmustbecommencedwithinfiveyearsafterthefirstto
12occurof:
13 (1)theremoval,resignation,ordeathofthetrustee;
14 (2)theoccurrenceoftheeventcausingaterminationofthebeneficiary'sinterestin
15thetrust;or
16 (3)theoccurrenceoftheeventcausingaterminationofthetrust.
474.540.Sections474.540to474.564shallbeknownandmaybecitedasthe
2"MissouriElectronicWillsandElectronicEstatePlanningDocumentsAct".
474.542.Asusedinsections474.540to474.564,thefollowingtermsmean:
2 (1)"Electronic",technologyhavingelectrical,digital,magnetic,wireless,
3optical,electromagnetic,orsimilarcapabilities;
HB180 2 4 (2)"Electronicpresence",therelationshipoftwoormoreindividualsin
5differentlocationsinrealtimeusingtechnologyenablinglive,interactiveaudio-visual
6communicationthatallowsforobservation,directinteraction,andcommunication
7betweenoramongtheindividuals;
8 (3)"Electronicwill",awillexecutedelectronicallyincompliancewith
9subsection1ofsection474.548;
10 (4)"Record",informationthatisinscribedonatangiblemediumorthatis
11storedinanelectronicorothermediumandisretrievableinperceivableform;
12 (5)"Securityprocedure",aproceduretoverifythatanelectronicsignature,
13record,orperformanceisthatofaspecificpersonortodetectachangeorerrorinan
14electronicrecord,includingaprocedurethatusesanalgorithm,code,identifyingword
15ornumber,encryption,orcallbackorotheracknowledgmentprocedure;
16 (6)"Sign",withpresentintenttoauthenticateoradoptarecord,to:
17 (a)Executeoradoptatangiblesymbol;or
18 (b)Affixtoorlogicallyassociatewiththerecordanelectronicsymbolor
19process;
20 (7)"State",astateoftheUnitedStates,theDistrictofColumbia,PuertoRico,
21theUnitedStatesVirginIslands,afederallyrecognizedIndiantribe,oranyterritoryor
22insularpossessionsubjecttothejurisdictionoftheUnitedStates;
23 (8)"Will",acodicilandanytestamentaryinstrumentthatappointsanexecutor,
24revokesorrevisesanotherwill,nominatesaguardian,orexpresslyexcludesorlimitsthe
25rightofanindividualorclasstosucceedtopropertyofthedecedentpassingbyintestate
26succession.
474.544.Anelectronicwillisawillforallpurposesofthelawsofthisstate.The
2lawsofthisstateapplicabletowillsandprinciplesofequityappliestoanelectronicwill
3exceptasmodifiedbysections474.540to474.564.
474.546.Awillexecutedelectronicallybutnotincompliancewithsubsection1of
2section474.548isanelectronicwillundersections474.540to474.564ifexecutedin
3compliancewiththelawofthejurisdictionwherethetestatoris:
4 (1)Physicallylocatedwhenthewillissigned;or
5 (2)Domiciled,orwherethetestatorresides,whenthewillissignedorwhenthe
6testatordies.
474.548.1.Anelectronicwillshallbe:
2 (1)Arecordthatisreadableastextatthetimeofsigningundersubdivision(2)
3ofthissubsectionandremainsaccessibleastextforlaterreference;
4 (2)Signedby:
5 (a)Thetestator;or
HB180 3 6 (b)Anotherindividualinthetestator'sname,inthetestator'sphysicalpresence,
7andbythetestator'sdirection;and
8 (3)Signedinthephysicalorelectronicpresenceofthetestatorbyatleasttwo
9individualsafterwitnessing:
10 (a)Thesigningofthewillundersubdivision(2)ofthissubsection;or
11 (b)Thetestator'sacknowledgmentofthesigningofthewillundersubdivision
12(2)ofthissubsectionoracknowledgmentofthewill.
13 2.Theintentofatestatorthattherecordundersubdivision(1)ofsubsection1of
14thissectionbethetestator'selectronicwillmaybeestablishedbyextrinsicevidence.
15 3.Inaccordancewithsection474.337or474.550,awitnesstoawillshallbea
16residentofastateandphysicallylocatedinastateatthetimeofsigningifnoself-
17provingaffidavitissignedcontemporaneouslywiththeexecutionoftheelectronicwill.
474.550.Atthetimeofitsexecutionoratanysubsequentdate,anelectronicwill
2maybemadeself-provedinthesamemannerasspecifiedinsection474.337or,iffewer
3thantwowitnessesarephysicallypresentinthesamelocationasthetestatoratthetime
4ofsuchacknowledgments,beforearemoteonlinenotaryauthorizedtoperforma
5remoteonlinenotarizationinthisstateunderthelawofanystateortheUnitedStates,
6andevidencedbyaremoteonlinenotarialcertificate,informandcontentsubstantially
7asfollows,subjecttotheadditionalrequirementsundersection486.1165:
8 Stateof_____
9 County(and/orCity)of_____
10 I,theundersignednotary,certifythat_____,thetestator,andthewitnesses,
11 whosenamesaresignedtotheattachedorforegoinginstrument,having
12 personallyappearedbeforemebyremoteonlinemeans,andhavingbeenfirst
13 dulysworn,eachthendeclaredtomethatthetestatorsignedandexecutedthe
14 instrumentasthetestator'slastwill,andthatthetestatorhadwillinglysignedor
15 willinglydirectedanothertosignforthetestator,andthatthetestatorexecutedit
16 asthetestator'sfreeandvoluntaryactforthepurposesthereinexpressed;and
17 thateachofthewitnesses,inthepresenceandhearingofthetestator,signedthe
18 willaswitnessandthattothebestofthewitnesses'knowledgethetestatorwasat
19 thattimeeighteenormoreyearsofage,ofsoundmind,andundernoconstraint
20 orundueinfluence.
21 InwitnessthereofIhavehereuntosubscribedmynameandaffixedmyofficial
22 sealthis_____(date).
23 ____________________(officialsignatureandsealofnotary)
474.552.1.Anelectronicwillmayrevokeallorpartofapreviouswill.
2 2.Allorpartofanelectronicwillisrevokedby:
HB180 4 3 (1)Asubsequentwillthatrevokesallorpartoftheelectronicwillexpresslyor
4byinconsistency;
5 (2)Awritteninstrumentsignedbythetestatordeclaringtherevocation;or
6 (3)Aphysicalact,ifitisestablishedbyapreponderanceoftheevidencethatthe
7testator,withtheintentofrevokingallorpartofthewill,performedtheactordirected
8anotherindividualwhoperformedtheactinthetestator'sphysicalpresence.
9 3.Ifthereisevidencethatatestatorsignedanelectronicwillandneitheran
10electronicwillnoracertifiedpapercopyoftheelectronicwillcanbelocatedaftera
11testator'sdeath,thereisapresumptionthatthetestatorrevokedtheelectronicwilleven
12ifnoinstrumentorlaterwillrevokingtheelectronicwillcanbelocated.
474.554.Withoutfurthernotice,atanytimeduringtheadministrationofthe
2estateor,ifthereisnograntofadministration,uponsuchnoticeandinsuchmanneras
3thecourtdirects,thecourtmayissueanorderundersections472.400to472.490fora
4custodianofanaccountheldunderaterms-of-serviceagreementtodisclosedigital
5assetsforthepurposesofobtaininganelectronicwillfromtheaccountofadeceased
6user.Ifthereisnograntofadministrationatthetimethecourtissuestheorder,the
7court'sordershallgrantdisclosuretothepetitionerwhoisdeemedapersonal
8representativeundersections472.400to472.490.
474.556.1.Anindividualmaycreateacertifiedpapercopyofanelectronicwill
2byaffirmingunderpenaltyofperjurythatapapercopyoftheelectronicwillisa
3complete,true,andaccuratecopyoftheelectronicwill.Iftheelectronicwillismade
4self-proving,thecertifiedpapercopyofthewillshallincludetheself-provingaffidavit
5undersection474.337or474.550.
6 2.Ifaruleoflaworprocedurerequiresawilltobepresentedorretainedinits
7originalformorprovidesconsequencesfortheinformationnotbeingpresentedor
8retainedinitsoriginalform,thatruleoflaworprocedureshallbesatisfiedbya
9certifiedpapercopyofanelectronicwill.
474.558.Inapplyingandconstruingsections474.540to474.564,consideration
2shallbegiventotheneedtopromoteuniformityofthelawwithrespecttoitssubject
3matteramongstatesthatenactit.
474.560.1.Anywrittenestateplanningdocumentmaybeexecuted
2electronically,andnosuchestateplanningdocumentshallbeinvalidorvoidsolely
3becauseitisinelectronicformorbecauseitissignedelectronicallybyasettlor,trustee,
4principal,grantor,declarant,orowner,orbyawitnesstoanysuchperson'ssignature.
5Forpurposesofthissection,"estateplanningdocument"shallinclude,butnotbe
6limitedto:
7 (1)Apowerofattorneyordurablepowerofattorney;
HB180 5 8 (2)Ahealthcaredeclaration;
9 (3)Anadvancedirective;
10 (4)Apowerofattorneyforhealthcareordurablepowerofattorneyforhealth
11care;
12 (5)Arevocabletrustoramendmentthereto,ormodificationorrevocation
13thereof;
14 (6)Anirrevocabletrust;
15 (7)Abeneficiarydeed;
16 (8)Anonprobatetransfer;or
17 (9)Adocumentmodifying,amending,correcting,orrevokinganywrittenestate
18planningdocument.
19 2.(1)Anelectronicestateplanningdocumentoranelectronicsignatureonsuch
20documentshallbeattributabletoapersonifitwastheactoftheperson.Theactofthe
21personmaybeshowninanymanner,includingashowingoftheefficacyofasecurity
22procedureappliedtodeterminethepersontowhichtheelectronicrecordorsignature
23wasattributable.
24 (2)Theeffectofattributionofadocumentorsignaturetoapersonunder
25subdivision(1)ofthissubsectionshallbedeterminedfromthecontextandsurrounding
26circumstancesatthetimeofitscreation,execution,oradoptionandasprovidedby
27otherlaw.
28 3.(1)Unlessotherwiseprovidedunderitsterms,anyelectronicestateplanning
29documentmaybesignedinoneormorecounterparts,andeachseparatecounterpart
30maybeanelectronicdocumentorapaperdocument,providedthatallsigned
31counterpartpagesofeachdocumentareincorporatedinto,orattachedto,the
32document.
33 (2)Anindividualmaycreateacertifiedpapercopyofanysuchelectronicestate
34planningdocumentbyaffirmingunderpenaltyofperjurythatapapercopyofthe
35electronicestateplanningdocumentisacomplete,true,andaccuratecopyofsuch
36document.Ifaruleoflaworprocedurerequiresanestateplanningdocumenttobe
37presentedorretainedinitsoriginalformorprovidesconsequencesfortheinformation
38notbeingpresentedorretainedinitsoriginalform,suchruleoflaworprocedureshall
39besatisfiedbyacertifiedpapercopyofanelectronicdocument.
40 4.Anywrittenestateplanningdocument,otherthanawill,thatrequiresoneor
41morewitnessestothesignatureofaprincipalmaybewitnessedbyanyindividualor
42individualsintheelectronicpresenceoftheprincipal.
43 5.Apersonwhoactsinrelianceuponanelectronicallyexecutedwrittenestate
44planningdocumentshallnotbeliabletoanypersonforsorelyingandmayassume
HB180 6 45withoutinquirythevalidexecutionoftheelectronicallyexecutedwrittenestateplanning
46document.
47 6.Thissectiondoesnotrequireawrittenestateplanningdocumenttobe
48electronicallysigned.
49 7.Thelawsofthisstateandprinciplesofequityapplicabletoanyestate
50planningdocumentshallapplytoanyelectronicestateplanningdocumentexceptas
51modifiedbythissection.
474.562.Theprovisionsofsections474.540to474.564modify,limit,and
2supersedethefederalElectronicSignaturesinGlobalandNationalCommerceAct,15
3U.S.C.Section7001etseq.,butdonotmodify,limit,orsupersedeSection101(c)ofthat
4act,15U.S.C.7001(c),orauthorizeelectronicdeliveryofanyofthenoticesdescribedin
5Section103(b)ofthatact,15U.S.C.Section7003(b).
474.564.Theprovisionsofsections474.540to474.564shallapplytothewillofa
2decedentwhodiesonorafterAugust28,2025,andtoeachotherwrittenestateplanning
3documentsignedorremotelywitnessedonorafterAugust28,2025.
474.600.1.Asusedinthissection,thefollowingtermsmean:
2 (1)"Applicablestateofemergency",theperiodbetweenApril6,2020,and
3December31,2021,duringwhichastateofemergencyexistedduetoaCOVID-19
4publichealththreat,asproclaimedbythegovernor,andduringwhichexecutiveorders
520-08,20-10,20-12,20-14,20-19,21.07,and21.09temporarilysuspendedthephysical
6appearancerequirementsunderthischapterandauthorizedtheuseofaudio-visual
7technologytotheextentthatanyMissouristatuterequiredthephysicalpresenceofany
8testator,settlor,principal,witness,notary,orotherpersonnecessaryfortheeffective
9executionofanyestateplanningdocumentsuchasawill,trust,orpowerofattorney,or
10aself-provingaffidavitoftheexecutionofsuchdocument,iftheconditionssetforthin
11theexecutiveordersweremet;
12 (2)"Estateplanningdocument",includes,butisnotlimitedto:
13 (a)Awill;
14 (b)Acodicil;
15 (c)Apowerofattorneyordurablepowerofattorney;
16 (d)Ahealthcaredeclaration;
17 (e)Anadvancedirective;
18 (f)Apowerofattorneyforhealthcareoradurablepowerofattorneyforhealth
19care;
20 (g)Arevocabletrustoramendmentthereto,ormodificationorrevocation
21thereof;
22 (h)Anirrevocabletrust;
HB180 7 23 (i)Abeneficiarydeed;
24 (j)Anonprobatetransfer;or
25 (k)Adocumentmodifying,amending,correcting,orrevokinganywrittenestate
26planningdocument;
27 (3)"Necessaryperson",anytestator,settlor,grantor,principal,declarant,
28witness,notary,orotherpersonrequiredfortheeffectiveexecutionofanyestate
29planningdocumentinthisstate;
30 (4)"Physicalpresencerequirement",includes,butisnotlimitedto,any
31requirementofphysicalpresenceundersection404.705,459.015,474.320,or474.337or
32chapter486.
33 2.Withrespecttotheexecutionofanestateplanningdocument,anecessary
34personshallbedeemedtohavesatisfiedanyphysicalpresencerequirementunder
35Missouristatuteduringtheapplicablestateofemergencyifthefollowingrequirements
36weremet:
37 (1)Thesigneraffirmativelyrepresentedthatthesignerwasphysicallylocatedin
38thestateofMissouri;
39 (2)ThenotarywasphysicallylocatedinthestateofMissouriandstatedinwhich
40countythenotarywasphysicallylocatedforthejurisdictionontheacknowledgment;
41 (3)Thenotaryidentifiedthesignerstothesatisfactionofthenotaryandcurrent
42law;
43 (4)Anypersonwhosesignaturewasrequiredappearedusingvideoconference
44softwarewherelive,interactiveaudio-visualcommunicationbetweentheprincipal,
45notary,andanyothernecessarypersonallowedforobservation,directinteraction,and
46communicationatthetimeofsigning;and
47 (5)Thenotaryrecordedinthenotary'sjournaltheexacttimeandmeansusedto
48performthenotarialact,alongwithallotherrequiredinformation,absentthewet
49signatures.
50 3.Therequirementsofsubdivisions(1)to(5)ofsubsection2ofthissectionshall
51bedeemedsatisfiedifanattorneywhoislicensedorauthorizedtopracticelawin
52Missouriandwhowaspresentattheremoteexecutionsignsawrittenacknowledgment
53madebeforeanofficerauthorizedtoadministeroathsunderthelawsofthisstate,and
54evidencedbytheofficer'scertificate,underofficialseal,affixedtoorlogicallyassociated
55withtheacknowledgment.Theformandcontentoftheacknowledgmentshallbe
56substantiallyasfollows:
57 Stateof______
58 Countyof_____
59 AFFIDAVITOFREMOTEEXECUTIONOFDOCUMENTS
HB180 8 60 I,__________,amanattorneylicensedorauthorizedtopracticelawinthestate
61 ofMissouri.
62 On_____(date),Iconvenedwiththefollowingindividualsviavideoconference
63 softwarethatallowedforlive,interactiveaudio-visualcommunicationbetween
64 thepartiestotheconferenceandthatalsoallowedforobservation,direction,
65 interaction,andcommunicationbetween:
66 __________,the(testator,settlor,grantor,principal,ordeclarant);
67 __________,awitness;
68 __________,asecondwitness;and
69 __________anotarypublic.
70 Duringtheconference,__________,the(testator,settlor,grantor,principal,or
71 declarant)signedthefollowingestateplanningdocumentordocuments:(awill,
72 codicil,powerofattorney,durablepowerofattorney,healthcaredeclaration,
73 advancedirective,healthcarepowerofattorney,revocabletrust,irrevocable
74 trust,beneficiarydeed,nonprobatetransfer,self-provingaffidavitofthe
75 executionofawill,oradocumentmodifying,amending,correcting,or
76 revokingoneoftheseestateplanningdocuments).
77 Allthepartiestotheconferencerepresentedthattheywerephysicallylocatedin
78 thestateofMissouriatthetimeofthesigning.
79 Ihavereviewedandamfamiliarwiththerequirementsoftheapplicable
80 executiveorderorordersineffectatthetimeandaffirmthattheremote
81 executionoftheestateplanningdocumentordocumentsmetalltherequirements
82 oftheapplicableexecutiveorderororders.
83 InwitnesswhereofI,anofficerauthorizedtoadministeroaths,havehereunto
84 subscribedmynameandaffixedmyofficialsealthis_____(date).
85 (Signed)
86 _____________________________________________________
87 (SEAL)
88 _____________________________________________________
89 (Officialcapacityofofficer)
âś”
HB180 9