All our lives have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many of us, it has put us in touch with our own mortality, and we realize how a serious illness or death can affect our loved ones, even beyond the tremendous emotional toll. Who do we want to make our healthcare decisions if we are incapacitated? What are our wishes for end of life care? How do we want our estates distributed after our deaths?
Making sure our documents and estate plans are in order may be one way to lessen the stress of this difficult time. Practicing law during this pandemic has brought its own challenges. Fortunately, modern technology allows us to continue to work with clients in writing, over the phone, and by video conference calls. Certainly, such communication methods do not replace the comfortable setting of in-person meetings. However, creative solutions to the practice of law make working remotely more successful.
One way in which the State of Illinois has helped is that Governor Pritzker recently signed an Executive Order which allows documents to be finalized, witnessed, and notarized by recorded video conference sessions. There are many specific and technical requirements to ensure that the documents are properly finalized, but at least we have a way to help people finalize their estate plans during this time. While many things in life must wait, at least we can support our clients during this pandemic with these additional tools.
If you would like to book a conference call or virtual meeting to discuss estate planning, wills, trusts, special needs planning, end of life planning, estate or trust administration, guardianship, elder law or Medicaid planning, please contact us at 630-510-0600. We look forward to helping you with all such legal needs during these uncertain times.
1001 Warrenville Road,
