Coronavirus / COVID-19 and Estate Planning Considerations - Dennis B. Dahlberg

We typically tell our clients that the best times to revisit or reconsider their estate planning documents are at significant stages of their lives (i.e. marriage, divorce, birth, or death).  Additionally, we encourage our clients to review their estate planning documents when there are significant changes to the law or during major societal events.

We are closely following the news about Coronavirus and a second burst of the traditional flu that is affecting people in our community.  We deeply understand the anxiety and hardships that the current Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak is causing to everyone in our community.

We encourage you and your loved ones to review, and update if it is necessary, your estate planning documents.  If you do not yet have any estate planning documents, we would encourage you to move forward with them at this time. 

Anyone over the age of eighteen (18) should have the basic estate planning documents of a Last Will & Testament, Durable / Financial Power of Attorney, Healthcare Power of Attorney, and Living Will. 

A Last Will & Testament states the manner in which your property and assets distributed after your death, whether it is to family and friends, a charity, or even pets. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure that your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardian(s) for your minor children.

A financial / durable power of attorney allows you to designate someone to manage the affairs of your estate, including financial decisions, if you are unable to manage them yourself.  Whereas your healthcare power of attorney allows you to designate someone to make medical decisions for you if you are not capable of making a medical decision for yourself at the time.

Lastly, a living will ensures that your wishes regarding medical care are followed in the event that you become terminally ill, or are in a coma for a significant period of time, and need to be on a life support system.

Please consider taking the necessary steps to either update, or establish, these basic documents as the consequence to not having them will have a significant impact upon both you and your loved ones.

Finally, it is a good idea to make copies of your loved one’s insurance cards and make sure that you can put your hands on any powers of attorney and healthcare directives that would allow you to legally communicate with doctors and make financial and medical decisions on your loved one’s behalf. 

If you, or you loved ones, do not have these legal documents in place, please contact our office.  We stand ready to assist you in your family, and we will work diligently to assist you in accomplishing your estate planning goals as soon as is possible.

We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your estate planning needs with you or your loved ones, and help to provide you with some peace of mind for the future.  Please feel free to contact one of our attorneys for a free consultation at 614-670-8103, or visit us at www.dsflawfirm.com.

- Dennis B. Dahlberg, Esq.