The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) thanks its customers for their questions and feedback over the past few weeks as everyone has adapted their business to comply with the Province’s physical distancing measures. As essential service providers, we are all connected in our efforts to maintain the continuous functioning of BC’s real property market during these extraordinary times.
The Director of Land Titles has issued Practice Bulletin 01-20 Process for Remote Witnessing of Affidavits for use in Land Title Applications, in effect immediately to provide direction about remote witnessing of affidavits in support of land title applications (including section 49) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This practice direction enables only BC lawyers and notaries who represent the parties to a property transaction to remotely witness affidavits. Lawyers and notaries who choose to remotely witness affidavits must first review the Law Society of British Columbia’s (LSBC) directions on best practices for using video-conferencing when providing legal advice or services, and must incorporate a statement in the jurat of the affidavit confirming this process was used and the best practices were followed.