Videoconferencing may be used by notaries public to accomplish important business transactions while avoiding face-to-face meetings during the COVID-19 state of emergency, under a bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday.

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said the law, which includes a series of checks and balances to ensure the integrity of the process, will make it easier to notarize wills, trust, health care proxy statements and real estate documents.

Real estate closings and other notary procedures can be executed in a timely way under the law, according to Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association Executive Director Deb Sousa, while affording people opportunities to ask questions and get answers, but in a safe way.