While it is not exactly business as usual at Thatcher | Law, we are moving forward to provide as much assistance to our clients as possible.
If you’re feeling anxious about the news, then be proactive and make sure you have an up-to-date, comprehensive estate plan that includes detailed health care directives, financial powers of attorney, and makes things as easy as possible for your family if you should become sick.
If you have college-age children, know that once they have turned 18, your parental rights are cut off. If they don’t have health care directives and powers of attorney in place, call to discuss how we can help.
In the meantime, it bears repeating the recommendations to prevent infection: regular hand-washing, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness. In other words, pretty standard stuff.
Here are some less standard things we would ask you to add to your list:
- Please keep in mind that as schools close, there will be many children who will lose two meals a day. Please consider increasing or beginning donations to local food pantries.
- Check in on your neighbors, especially if they are elderly, and make sure they have food, medications, and supplies.
- Small business and restaurants are already feeling the impact and if the trend continues, many won’t be able to support their families. When possible, shop and eat local. If you’re not comfortable dining out right now, order takeout or stop by your favorite place and buy a gift certificate for future use when things settle down.
What We’re Doing to Protect Our Team and Clients
We have implemented a system to allow for virtual estate planning meetings. You can book an appointment using this link
Unfortunately, California does not allow estate planning documents to signed electronically. Thus, we can make arrangements for you to sign your documents at our office or we can send you signing instructions (though you’ll need to arrange for a notary and two witnesses who are unrelated to you).
Knowing that we regularly work with seniors and the immuno-compromised, who are at greater risk, as soon as word of coronavirus first hit the news, we are taking additional disinfection measures in our office.
We have adopted a ‘no hand-shaking’ policy. Our janitorial services are disinfecting each evening. Upon arriving at the office, each team member is washing their hands and disinfecting their workstation. All common areas, restrooms, breakrooms, light switches, door handles, and so forth are being disinfected each morning and throughout the day. Client meeting rooms are being disinfected in between each meeting. We are also using new pens for each client signing.
Our policy has always been and remains that any member of our team who isn’t feeling well is encouraged to stay home. We can’t do our best work for our clients unless we keep ourselves, each other, and our clients healthy.
Bottom line: We are fully prepared and committed to moving you forward toward your goals and help you have peace of mind that your affairs are in order.
If you need assistance with something, please ask us. We’ll do everything we can to offer it.
Let’s get through this together. Onward!