Estate Planning and the Coronavirus

During this time of world crisis, you may be forced to quarantine in your home. While there are several productive projects you could do, one of the most important would be to consider your estate planning needs. If you have already started the process of estate planning, or are just beginning, much of the estate planning process can be done at home while you are likely in a shelter-in-place due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Consider how to begin or continue your estate planning documents in the state of New Jersey as we all go through this global pandemic together.

Estate Planning Process

There are several documents that can compose your estate planning needs. Every person has different needs. Those with children will have different needs than those without. Those with special needs children will have even different needs to ensure that they have someone to take care of their adult children after they pass away. Most of these decisions are made at home. Typically, you can meet with an attorney, discuss your current situation and needs and then you will have a lot to make decisions about. These discussions with an attorney can easily occur over a telephone or video conference in the new coronavirus age, and you can be better prepared to start considering how you want your estate planning to move forward.

 

Executing and Finalizing Estate Planning Documents

Many counties and states are currently under shelter-in-place mandates, and many more will likely be mandated in the hours and days after this article is published. However, visiting with an experienced attorney will help you understand how you are able to prepare all of your legal estate planning documents in your home, and still be able to execute them and make them valid.

Not all estate planning documents require the same standards to make them legal. Also, not all estate planning documents need to be notarized. For example, if you want to make a legal Last Will and Testament in the state of New Jersey, you will have to sign it in front of two witnesses (hopefully standing at least 15 feet away from you) and then they will need to sign it, as well (as you pass it to them with gloves on). As long as that occurs, your last will and testament does not need to be notarized in New Jersey and your will is a legally enforceable document. Every estate planning document is different, however, and it is important to visit with your attorney regarding what estate planning documents you need, and how you should go about executing them during this time of a pandemic.

Contact an Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

Along with a living trust or a last will and testament, you should also consider whether or not you would like to include HIPAA authorization forms, durable power of attorney, patient advocate designations and more. Contact an experienced estate planning attorney at the law firm of Giro Law at 201-690-1642 to help you understand how to protect your legal rights during this uncertain time.