AB985: Bill Text

AB985,4 Section 4. 154.30 (8) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB985,,149 154.30 (8) (d) 2. Be signed and dated by the declarant, with the signature witnessed by 2 witnesses who each have attained age 18 and who are not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the declarant, or acknowledged before a notary public. If the declarant is physically unable to sign an authorization for final disposition, the authorization shall be signed in the declarant’s name by an individual 18 years of age or older at the declarant’s express direction and in his or her physical presence; such a proxy signing shall take place or be acknowledged by the declarant in the presence of 2 witnesses or a notary public.

AB985,5 Section 5. 154.30 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB985,,151 154.30 (8m) Remote execution. For purposes of sub. (8) (d) 2., “witnessed by” and “in the presence of” include the simultaneous remote appearance by 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication technology if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

AB985,,152 (a) The signing is supervised by an attorney in good standing licensed by this state. The supervising attorney may serve as one of the remote witnesses.

AB985,,153 (b) The declarant attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication.

AB985,,154 (c) Each remote witness attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication.

AB985,,155 (d) The declarant and each of the remote witnesses identify themselves. If the declarant and remote witnesses are not personally known to each other and to the supervising attorney, the declarant and each of the remote witnesses display photo identification.

AB985,,156 (e) The declarant identifies anyone else present in the same physical location as the declarant and, if possible, the declarant makes a visual sweep of the declarant’s physical surroundings so that the supervising attorney and each remote witness can confirm the presence of any other person.

AB985,,157 (f) The declarant displays the authorization for final disposition, confirms the total number of pages and the page number of the page on which the declarant’s signature will be affixed, and declares to the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney all of the following:

AB985,,158 1. That the declarant is 18 years of age or older.

AB985,,159 2. That the document is an authorization for final disposition.

AB985,,160 3. That the document is being executed as a voluntary act.

AB985,,161 (g) The declarant, or an individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the declarant, dates and signs the authorization for final disposition in a manner that allows each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney to see the execution.

AB985,,162 (h) The audiovisual communication technology used allows communication by which a person is able to see, hear, and communicate in an interactive way with another person in real time using electronic means, except that if the declarant, a remote witness, or the supervising attorney has an impairment that affects hearing, sight, or speech, assistive technology or learned skills may be substituted for audio or visual if it allows that person to actively participate in the signing in real time.

AB985,,163 (i) The authorization for final disposition indicates that it is being executed pursuant to this subsection.

AB985,,164 (j) One of the following occurs:

AB985,,165 1. The declarant, or another person at the direction of the declarant, personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original authorization for final disposition to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution. The supervising attorney then personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original authorization for final disposition to the remote witnesses within a reasonable time. The first remote witness to receive the original authorization for final disposition signs and dates the original authorization for final disposition as a witness and forwards the entire signed original authorization for final disposition by personal delivery or U.S. mail or commercial courier service within a reasonable time to the 2nd remote witness, who signs and dates it as a witness and forwards the entire signed original authorization for final disposition by personal delivery or U.S. mail or commercial courier service within a reasonable time to the supervising attorney.

AB985,,166 2. The declarant, or another person at the direction of the declarant, personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original authorization for final disposition to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution, and transmits by facsimile or electronic means a legible copy of the entire signed authorization for final disposition directly to each remote witness within a reasonable time after execution. Each remote witness shall then sign the transmitted copy of the authorization for final disposition as a witness and personally deliver or transmit by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed copy of the authorization for final disposition to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after witnessing. The signed original and signed copies together shall constitute one original document, unless the supervising attorney, within a reasonable time after receiving the signed original and signed copies, compiles the signed original and signed copies into one document by attaching the signature pages of each remote witness to the original signed by or on behalf of the declarant, in which case the compiled document shall constitute the original.

AB985,,167 3. The declarant and each of the remote witnesses sign identical copies of the original. The declarant, or another person at the direction of the declarant, and each of the remote witnesses personally deliver or transmit by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the signed originals to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution. All of the signed originals together shall constitute one original document unless the supervising attorney, within a reasonable time after receiving all signed originals, compiles the originals into one document by attaching the signature pages of each remote witness to the original signed by the declarant, in which case the compiled document shall constitute the original.

AB985,,168 (k) The supervising attorney completes an affidavit of compliance that contains the following information:

AB985,,169 1. The name and residential address of the declarant.

AB985,,170 2. The name and residential or business address of each remote witness.

AB985,,171 3. The address within this state where the declarant was physically located at the time the declarant signed the authorization for final disposition.

AB985,,172 4. The address within this state where each remote witness was physically located at the time the remote witness witnessed the declarant’s execution of the authorization for final disposition.

AB985,,173 5. A statement that the declarant and remote witnesses were all known to each other and the supervising attorney or a description of the form of photo identification used to confirm the identity of the declarant and each remote witness.

AB985,,174 6. Confirmation that the declarant declared that the declarant is 18 years of age or older, that the document is the declarant’s authorization for final disposition, and that the document was being executed as the declarant’s voluntary act.

AB985,,175 7. Confirmation that each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney were able to see the declarant, or an individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the declarant, sign, and that the declarant appeared to be 18 years of age or older and acting voluntarily.

AB985,,176 8. A description of the audiovisual technology used for the signing process.

AB985,,177 9. If the authorization for final disposition was not signed in counterpart, a description of the method used to forward the authorization for final disposition to each remote witness for signing and to the supervising attorney after signing.

AB985,,178 10. If the authorization for final disposition was signed in counterpart, a description of the method used to forward each counterpart to the supervising attorney and, if applicable, how and when the supervising attorney physically compiled the signed paper counterparts into a single document containing the authorization for final disposition, the signature of the declarant, and the signatures of the remote witnesses.

AB985,,179 11. The name, state bar number, and business or residential address of the supervising attorney.

AB985,,180 12. Any other information that the supervising attorney considers to be material with respect to the declarant’s capacity to sign a valid authorization for final disposition, the declarant’s and witnesses’ compliance with this section, or any other information that the supervising attorney deems relevant to the execution of the authorization for final disposition.

AB985,,181 (L) The affidavit of compliance is attached to the authorization for final disposition.

AB985,,182 (m) An affidavit of compliance described in this subsection shall be substantially in the following form:

AB985,,183 AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE

AB985,,184 State of ....

AB985,,185 County of ....

AB985,,186 The undersigned, being first duly sworn under oath, states as follows:

AB985,,187 This Affidavit of Compliance is executed pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 154.30 (8m) to document the execution of the authorization for final disposition of [name of declarant] via remote appearance by 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication technology on [date].

AB985,,188 1. The name and residential address of the declarant is ....

AB985,,189 2. The name and [residential or business] address of remote witness 1 is ....

AB985,,190 3. The name and [residential or business] address of remote witness 2 is ....

AB985,,191 4. The address within the state of Wisconsin where the declarant was physically located at the time the declarant signed the authorization for final disposition is ....

AB985,,192 5. The address within the state of Wisconsin where remote witness 1 was physically located at the time the remote witness witnessed the declarant’s execution of the authorization for final disposition is ....

AB985,,193 6. The address within the state of Wisconsin where remote witness 2 was physically located at the time the remote witness witnessed the declarant’s execution of the authorization for final disposition is ....

AB985,,194 7. The declarant and remote witnesses were all known to each other and to the supervising attorney. - OR - The declarant and remote witnesses were not all known to each other and to the supervising attorney. Each produced the following form of photo identification to confirm his or her identity:

AB985,,195 ....

AB985,,196 8. The declarant declared that the declarant is 18 years of age or older, that the document is the declarant’s authorization for final disposition, and that the document was executed as the declarant’s voluntary act.

AB985,,197 9. Each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney were able to see the declarant, or an individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the declarant, sign. The declarant appeared to be 18 years of age or older and acting voluntarily.

AB985,,198 10. The audiovisual technology used for the signing process was ....

AB985,,199 11. The authorization for final disposition was not signed in counterpart. The following methods were used to forward the authorization for final disposition to each remote witness for signing and to the supervising attorney after signing. - OR - The authorization for final disposition was signed in counterpart. The following methods were used to forward each counterpart to the supervising attorney. [If applicable] - The supervising attorney physically compiled the signed paper counterparts into a single document containing the authorization for final disposition, the signature of the declarant, and the signatures of the remote witnesses on [date] by [e.g., attaching page 7 from each counterpart signed by a remote witness to the back of the authorization for final disposition signed by the declarant].

AB985,,200 12. The name, state bar number, and [business or residential] address of the supervising attorney is ....

AB985,,201 13. [Optional] Other information that the supervising attorney considers to be material is as follows: ....

AB985,,202 .... (signature of supervising attorney)

AB985,,203 Subscribed and sworn to before me on .... (date) by .... (name of supervising attorney).

AB985,,204 .... (signature of notarial officer)

AB985,,205 Stamp

AB985,,206 .... (Title of office)

AB985,,207 [My commission expires: ....]

AB985,6 Section 6. 155.10 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB985,,209 155.10 (3) For purposes of sub. (1) (c), “in the presence of” includes the simultaneous remote appearance by 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication technology if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

AB985,,210 (a) The signing is supervised by an attorney in good standing licensed by this state. The supervising attorney may serve as one of the remote witnesses.

AB985,,211 (b) The principal attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication.

AB985,,212 (c) Each remote witness attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication.

AB985,,213 (d) The principal and each of the remote witnesses identify themselves. If the principal and remote witnesses are not personally known to each other and to the supervising attorney, the principal and each of the remote witnesses display photo identification.

AB985,,214 (e) The principal identifies anyone else present in the same physical location as the principal and, if possible, the principal makes a visual sweep of the principal’s physical surroundings so that the supervising attorney and each remote witness can confirm the presence of any other person.

AB985,,215 (f) The principal displays the power of attorney for health care, confirms the total number of pages and the page number of the page on which the principal’s signature will be affixed, and declares to the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney all of the following:

AB985,,216 1. That the principal is 18 years of age or older.

AB985,,217 2. That the document is the principal’s power of attorney for health care.

AB985,,218 3. That the document is being executed as a voluntary act.

AB985,,219 (g) The principal, or an individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the principal, dates and signs the power of attorney for health care in a manner that allows each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney to see the execution.

AB985,,220 (h) The audiovisual communication technology used allows communication by which a person is able to see, hear, and communicate in an interactive way with another person in real time using electronic means, except that if the principal, a remote witness, or the supervising attorney has an impairment that affects hearing, sight, or speech, assistive technology or learned skills may be substituted for audio or visual if it allows that person to actively participate in the signing in real time.

AB985,,221 (i) The power of attorney for health care indicates that it is being executed pursuant to this subsection.

AB985,,222 (j) One of the following occurs:

AB985,,223 1. The principal, or another person at the direction of the principal, personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original power of attorney for health care to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution. The supervising attorney then personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original power of attorney for health care to the remote witnesses within a reasonable time. The first remote witness to receive the original power of attorney for health care signs and dates the original power of attorney for health care as a witness and forwards the entire signed original power of attorney for health care by personal delivery or U.S. mail or commercial courier service within a reasonable time to the 2nd remote witness, who signs and dates it as a witness and forwards the entire signed original power of attorney for health care by personal delivery or U.S. mail or commercial courier service within a reasonable time to the supervising attorney.

AB985,,224 2. The principal, or another person at the direction of the principal, personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original power of attorney for health care to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution and transmits by facsimile or electronic means a legible copy of the entire signed power of attorney for health care directly to each remote witness within a reasonable time after execution. Each remote witness then signs the transmitted copy of the power of attorney for health care as a witness and personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed copy of the power of attorney for health care to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after witnessing. The signed original and signed copies together shall constitute one original document, unless the supervising attorney, within a reasonable time after receiving the signed original and signed copies, compiles the signed original and signed copies into one document by attaching the signature pages of each remote witness to the original signed by or on behalf of the principal, in which case the compiled document shall constitute the original.

AB985,,225 3. The principal and each of the remote witnesses sign identical copies of the original. The principal, or another person at the direction of the principal, and each of the remote witnesses personally deliver or transmit by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the signed originals to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution. All of the signed originals together shall constitute one original document, unless the supervising attorney, within a reasonable time after receiving all signed originals, compiles the originals into one document by attaching the signature pages of each remote witness to the original signed by or on behalf of the principal, in which case the compiled document shall constitute the original.

AB985,,226 (k) The supervising attorney completes an affidavit of compliance that contains the following information:

AB985,,227 1. The name and residential address of the principal.

AB985,,228 2. The name and residential or business address of each remote witness.

AB985,,229 3. The address within this state where the principal was physically located at the time the principal signed the power of attorney for health care.

AB985,,230 4. The address within this state where each remote witness was physically located at the time the remote witness witnessed the principal’s execution of the power of attorney for health care.

AB985,,231 5. A statement that the principal and remote witnesses were all known to each other and the supervising attorney or a description of the form of photo identification used to confirm the identity of the principal and each remote witness.

AB985,,232 6. Confirmation that the principal declared that the principal is 18 years of age or older, that the document is the principal’s power of attorney for health care, and that the document was being executed as the principal’s voluntary act.

AB985,,233 7. Confirmation that each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney were able to see the principal, or an individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the principal, sign, and that the principal appeared to be 18 years of age or older and acting voluntarily.

AB985,,234 8. A description of the audiovisual technology used for the signing process.

AB985,,235 9. If the power of attorney for health care was not signed in counterpart, a description of the method used to forward the power of attorney for health care to each remote witness for signing and to the supervising attorney after signing.

AB985,,236 10. If the power of attorney for health care was signed in counterpart, a description of the method used to forward each counterpart to the supervising attorney and, if applicable, how and when the supervising attorney physically compiled the signed paper counterparts into a single document containing the power of attorney for health care, the signature of the principal, and the signatures of the remote witnesses.