The decision to end the State of Emergency in New York means changes for businesses and individuals

On June 24, 2021, Governor Cuomo announced an end to the State of Emergency in New York put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the end of the State of Emergency comes a lifting of all executive orders that modified rules and laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among those executive orders that will expire on June 24, 2021 that will impact a number of our clients and many Western New Yorkers are:

Remote notarizations: In November 2020, Governor Cuomo issued an executive order allowing for the remote (electronic) notarization of documents. There is a bill in the New York State Legislature to make electronic notarizations permanent. However, it has not yet passed, meaning effective June 25, 2021, all documents must be notarized in-person.

To-go Alcohol Sales: Early on in the pandemic, in an attempt to aid the struggling restaurant industry, Gov. Cuomo issued an executive order allowing bars and restaurants to sell take out alcohol. Despite a strong push by the public to make take-out alcohol a permanent option, that executive order also expired with the lifting of the State of Emergency. Bars and restaurants found to be serving alcohol to-go beginning on June 25, will face the same penalties that were in place prior to the executive order.

If you have any questions about these changes, please give our team of attorneys a call, 716-854-4300. We are here to help.

To read more about the end of the State of Emergency, click here.