Corona Virus Emergency Documents

We have provided an on-line resource to help our clients and friends prepare for contingencies while we all “shelter in place” during an emergency such as the current corona virus / COVID-19 lock down.  Any medical or financial crisis will be much worse if there are also legal complications.  To be prepared during during the corona virus, emergency documents are crucial.

We are frequently asked what legal documents are needed to be prepared for emergencies such as this.  The purpose of this email is to address that question.

Emergency Documents:  Certain emergency legal and medical documents such as Medical Directives and Powers of Attorney are critical in an emergency.  These documents are where you name who will make decisions for you if you become incapacitated.  If you don’t identify such decision makers in advance, someone you may not want may end up making those decisions for you.

To prepare in advance, everyone over the age of 18 should have the following documents in place:

• Durable General Powers of Attorney (Financial Decision Makers)
• Medical Powers of Attorney (Medical Decision Makers)
• Living Will (End of Life Care)
• Last Will and Testament (Care of Minor children and “who gets what”)  You will be provided with a hard original of this so you can obtain wet signatures which are currently required by law.
• Other support documents.  For the full list, look here. 

With the current corona virus emergency documents are even more important.

If You Already Have Documents.  If you already have these documents in place, congratulations.  In this you are prepared. Make sure you know where they are.  We also strongly recommend that you review them to make sure they accurately reflect your wishes.  Updates may be appropriate if they do not conform with your wishes or if they are more than five years old.

What if You Don’t Have Documents?  If you don’t have these documents, we strongly recommend that you engage legal counsel of your choice to obtain them.  

Part of our response plan is to help those who may not have these documents obtain them without undue risk and expense.  To make it easier and simpler while we practice social distancing, this is how we can help: 

• 20% Emergency Discount from Standard Fees for the Emergency Document package by responding to this article.  This amounts to a $200 savings for individuals or $300 savings for couples.
• Law firm prepared documents, with up to 30 minutes of consultation with an attorney
• Review and Sign “in place” – you do not have to leave the safety of your home.  Everything is handled online.
• On-line witness and notary service — you do not need to be physically present.
• Both a hard copy delivered to your door and a soft copy in pdf.
• A signed certification by an attorney that your documents are legal and valid
• A secure client portal for confidential communications and document access
• After the lock down is over and we may meet again, a complimentary conference to review your documents, answer questions, make any fine tuning adjustments, and obtain wet signatures where appropriate.

Be prepared to provide the following:  If you wish to have us prepare your emergency documents,complete our secure intake form which is available here.  You will be guided through payment options.  This is the information we will need:

• Your full legal name, date of birth, and contact information
• The full legal names of your children
• Your designated “Decision Makers” for the following:
  • Medical Decisions
  • Financial Decisions
  • Custody of other persons such as minor children or an incapacitated adult in your care
• If you have previously established a Trust, the Name, Date and Trustees of your Trust.

We are available to answer questions and help at 480.324.8000.  The call is free.

Sharing this with others is encouraged.  It will help them be better prepared.