Estate Planning Done Remotely
According to the 2020 Estate Planning and Wills Study, less than one-third (32%) of Americans have a Will or another type of estate planning document, i.e. Power of Attorney or Living Will[1]. That leaves two-thirds of Americans without a plan for their assets and without a designated individual to act on their behalf in a financial or medical emergency.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has people asking the daunting questions—what happens to my “stuff” if I die without a Will? How do I protect my minor children if something happens to me? Who will pay my bills if I’m in the hospital? Who will make medical decisions for me if I can’t?
While the questions are difficult, the answer is relatively simple—estate planning documents are carefully tailored for each individual’s circumstances to address those very questions. A Will carefully bequeaths your assets (real and personal) to beneficiaries of your choosing. That same Will designates a guardian and creates Trusts for the care of your minor children. A Financial Power of Attorney enables your designated agent to contact your financial institutions and pay bills. A Living Will and Health Care Directive memorializes your wishes and advises doctors how to approach your treatment.
During these difficult and uncertain times, estate planning documents are especially important and can be prepared remotely. Initial consultations are done by phone or over communication technology such as Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, etc. Thereafter, draft documents are circulated electronically for review and another telephonic or video conference is scheduled to discuss modifications and questions. Once the documents are finalized, clients come to our office to execute said documents in a manner that adheres to all social distancing recommendations issued by the CDC and the Governor of New Jersey.
If you do not have estate planning documents, or need to update outdated documents, please contact Yuliya V. Tedeschi, Esq. by phone at (732) 349-1212 ext. 123 or by email at [email protected] to schedule a free consultation and have your estate planning done remotely.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Readers of this website should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and website authors or the law firm.
To schedule your free estate planning consultation, contact Yuliya V. Tedeschi by email or by phone at 732-349-1212. Our Toms River law office is conveniently located near the Ocean County Courthouse.
[1] https://www.caring.com/caregivers/estate-planning/wills-survey