Electronic signatures and remote online notarization have been permitted in Washington State since 2020 under Senate Bill 5641 and RCW 1.80.060. This means you never need to drive to an office to sign estate planning documents.
Estate planning documents that require notarization cannot be signed by simply clicking a button in DocuSign — the way you might sign a real estate sales contract. Instead, Christopher records the Zoom meeting in which the documents are shared on screen, and you state on camera that the documents are correct and that it is your wish to sign.
Christopher generates your electronic signature in DocuSign and affixes it to the PDF along with his own signature and the notary seal. The image on the video must match the images on the driver's licenses of everyone in the meeting — including Christopher. It is easier than driving to an office and signing with a pen, but not as simple as clicking a button in an email.
What makes the DocuSign software-generated signature valid as your signature is you saying on camera that the documents are correct and that it is your wish to sign. If you say the documents are correct, you have signed. If you say they are not correct, you have not signed.
Legal Authority
Senate Bill 5641 — Remote Online Notarization (Washington State, 2020)
RCW 1.80.060 — Electronic Signatures are Valid
Four Requirements for Remote Notarization
A photo ID (driver's license or equivalent) for each person who signs
A recorded Zoom meeting in which the accuracy of the shared documents is acknowledged on camera
A ratification email after the Zoom meeting confirming the documents are correct or identifying any needed changes
A watermark reading "Electronically Signed & Notarized in ZOOM via DocuSign" — replacing the "Draft Not Valid for Use" watermark
Sample Estate Plans
Christopher can provide examples of what your completed estate plan will look like — whether you are single, married, or entering a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. Ask for a sample when you submit your intake form.