20 Sep BC Land Title & Survey Office – Remote Signing Phase Out

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Land Title Office introduced remote signing options to assist in situations where a party was unable to sign with a lawyer or notary in person due to reasons related to COVID-19. However, the Land Title Office has recently announced that these remote signing options will be removed as of September 30, 2023.

As it currently stands, and while there may be different interpretations on this, the remote signing measures are intended only for use in situations where there is a safety risk associated with an in-person meeting. This option is not to be utilized for convenience purposes. In any event, effective September 30, 2023, the remote signing option for COVID-19 reasons will no longer be permissible without specific approval from the Land Title Office. Additionally, after the same date, the use of remote signed affidavits for Land Title Office purposes will also be discontinued.

Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Land Title Office allowed legal professionals to rely on true copies of supporting documents, such as death certificates, in certain applications. However, this practice will also be removed, and legal professionals will again be required to hold the original copies of such documents prior to filing.

As of now, there are no planned, more permanent remote signing options that we are aware of. For additional information, please refer to the news bulletin from LTSA: https://ltsa.ca/retirement-of-covid-measures-effective-september-30/