New York Passes Electronic Wills Act, Expanding Access to Modern Estate Planning

Published: January 14, 2026

New York has officially modernized its estate planning laws for the digital era. On December 12, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul has signed Senate Bill S7416, known as the New York Electronic Wills Act, into law, allowing wills to be executed electronically under New York law.

With this legislation, New York becomes the 16th state, plus Washington, DC, to authorize electronic wills, marking a significant milestone in the national effort to expand access to estate planning through secure, technology-enabled solutions.

What Is the New York Electronic Wills Act?

The New York Electronic Wills Act updates longstanding estate planning statutes to permit wills to be signed and executed electronically, while maintaining New York’s rigorous legal formalities and consumer protections.

The law is based on the Uniform Law Commission’s Uniform Electronic Wills Act (UEWA), with key adaptations tailored to New York’s legal framework. One of the most notable features of the legislation is its designation of the New York Office of Court Administration as the qualified custodian for electronic wills.

Under this approach, the New York courts will serve as the official custodian for all electronically executed wills, providing centralized oversight, secure storage, and added confidence in the validity of digital estate planning documents. This court-led custodianship model is unique among states and may influence how other jurisdictions approach electronic wills compared to traditional wills in the future.

Who Was Involved in Passing the Law?

The New York Electronic Wills Act (S7416/A7856) was sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblyman Charles Lavine, and supported by a bipartisan group of co-sponsors. The legislation reflects years of collaboration among legal, judicial, consumer, and industry stakeholders.

The effort included meaningful contributions from the New York State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section, the New York City Bar Association, the Surrogate’s Court, the Office of Court Administration, AARP, MetLife Legal Plans, and other key organizations focused on consumer protection and legal modernization.

Trust & Will played a leading role in building and supporting this broad coalition, helping to bring stakeholders together around a framework that balances innovation with New York’s long-established estate planning standards.

Why Electronic Wills Matter for New York Families

Allowing electronic wills helps reduce barriers that have historically kept many families from estate planning. By making the process more accessible and flexible, electronic wills can help more people take an important step toward protecting their loved ones and preserving their wishes.

These changes directly support Trust & Will’s mission to help every family leave their legacy and advance its vision of a future where every family has access to tools that support long-term financial planning and multi-generational wealth.

A National Signal for the Future of Estate Planning

New York’s adoption of electronic wills sends a strong signal nationwide. As one of the most influential legal jurisdictions in the country, New York’s approach, particularly its decision to place electronic will custodianship within the court system, may shape how other states modernize their own estate planning laws.

As more states move toward digital solutions, the New York Electronic Wills Act demonstrates that modernization and consumer protection can go hand in hand, setting a clear path forward for the future of estate planning.

Media Contact: 

Mark LoCastro, Senior Director, PR & Comms, pr@trustandwill.com