Real estate practitioners in New Jersey say a recent state Supreme Court ruling that sales contracts can be voided by email or fax has been a long time coming, and that it recognizes how lawyers conduct business in an age of instantaneous communication.

In a unanimous ruling on April 3 in Conley v. Guerrero, the court said an attorney may void a real estate contract on behalf of a client by fax or email. Conley updates a 1983 ruling that said contracts had to be voided by certified mail, telegram or personal delivery.

Justice Lee Solomon, writing for the court, said a party receiving actual notice is more important than the method of delivery.