​The Harmless Error Doctrine And The Future Of Will Execution In A Digitizing World

​For centuries, strict compliance with the Wills Act governed testamentary validity. Today, courts and legislatures are rethinking that rigidity in light of modern realities, digital evidence, and evolving expressions of testamentary intent.

​So how are judges balancing the risk of probating an inauthentic will against the danger of rejecting a genuine one?
What happens when intent is clear—but formalities fall short?
And how do electronic records, texts, emails, and unsigned drafts fit into modern probate analysis?

​These questions and more will be explored in this timely and practical session, which will:

• ​Trace the evolution from strict compliance to substantial compliance and harmless error doctrines

• ​Examine how courts evaluate false positives vs. false negatives in will validation

• ​Analyze the growing acceptance of electronic wills and the Uniform Electronic Wills Act

• ​Discuss emergency adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic and their lasting impact

• ​Explore how digital technologies—smartphones, cloud storage, and electronic records—are reshaping questions of authenticity, intent, and probate reliability

​👉 Join us for an insightful discussion on where the law of wills has been, where it is now, and where it’s headed—so you can better advise clients, anticipate litigation risks, and navigate testamentary intent in an increasingly digital world.

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​About Scott Schomer

​I’m an estate planning attorney. But not the kind who disappears after handing you a 3-ring binder that no one understands.

​At Schomer Estate & Wealth Advisors, we don’t just draft documents—we build plans that work, relationships that last, and strategies that protect your legacy from the courts, taxes, and avoidable drama.

​We’re a multidisciplinary practice: attorneys, fiduciary financial advisors, tax strategists, and courtroom veterans under one roof. We don’t sell products. We don’t earn commissions. We answer to you—with clarity, confidence, and a touch of wit.

​Credentials? Yes. Jargon? No.
• I’m a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law.
• I’ve served as a Temporary Judge, a court-appointed attorney and expert, and an Adjunct Professor of Law.
• I’ve handled everything from high-stakes probates to “my sibling’s gone rogue” cases.
• I also serve as a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor, because what’s the point of building an estate plan if no one knows how to manage the assets?

​But none of that matters if it doesn’t make sense to you. That’s why I speak in plain English, ask good questions, and help clients stay out of court—or win if they’re dragged into it.

​If you haven’t created a trust, we’ll help you do it right.
If you already have one, we’ll make sure it actually does what you think it does.
If you’re in a legal or financial tangle, we’re your unflappable guide.

​Let’s fix what’s broken.
Let’s protect what matters.
Let’s make your plan make sense.