slnlaw
  • Home
  • Employment Law
    • Guide To Employment Law Content
    • Employment Contracts in Massachusetts
    • Discrimination in the Workplace
    • Employment Termination >
      • Massachusetts Paid Family Leave
      • Severance Pay
      • Unemployment in Massachusetts
    • Sexual Harassment at Work >
      • Sexual Harassment in a Small Business
      • Sexual Harassment and Non Disclosure Agreements
      • Sexual Harassment and Remote Work
    • Wage and Hour Laws >
      • Overtime Law >
        • Overtime Exemptions
        • Employee Travel Time
        • Federal or State Overtime Law
      • Massachusetts Wage Act >
        • Payment of Commissions
        • Wage Deductions
        • Late Payment of Wages
        • Paid Time Off
    • Independent Contractor Law
    • Non Compete Agreements >
      • Are non competes enforceable
      • Massachusetts Non Compete Act
      • Pre 2018 Massachusetts Non Competes
  • Estate Planning
    • Guide To Estate Planning Content
    • Legacy Protection
    • Why You Need an Estate Plan
    • Why You Don't Have an Estate Plan
    • Estate Planning Documents >
      • Children with Special Needs
    • Planning for Assisted Living
    • Probate Process
  • Business Law
    • Guide To Business Law Content
    • Small Business Law
    • Business Contract Basics
    • Civil Suit Defense
    • Legal Issues for Start Ups
    • Trademark Basics
    • How to Incorporate
    • Sale of Business
  • About
    • Reviews
    • Slnlaw Offices
    • slnlaw core values
    • Publications and Interviews
    • New Client Intake and Consultation
    • Contact
  • Attorneys
    • Emily Smith-Lee >
      • 2018 Lawyer of the Year
    • Jenna Ordway
    • Rebecca Rogers
    • Sharleen Tinnin
    • Elijah Bresley
  • Legal FAQs
    • Estate Planning FAQs
    • Probate FAQs
    • Small Business FAQs
    • Wage Act FAQs
    • Commission Pay FAQs
    • Overtime FAQs
    • Independent Contractor FAQs
    • Non Compete FAQs
    • Employment Discrimination FAQs
    • Employment Termination FAQs
    • Massachusettts Unemployment FAQs
    • Severance Package FAQs
    • Medical Leave FAQs
    • Sexual Harassment FAQs
    • Employer FAQs
    • Civil Lawsuit FAQs
  • Blog

planning for the second covid wave

11/14/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture

3 Easy Estate Planning Steps for the Second COVID-19 Wave

We are in the next COVID-19 wave in Massachusetts.  Just as we had started to resume activities that were suspended for the first part of the year.  Just as we had started to feel like something close to normal might resume.  And just as we had started to get to taking care of some things that we did not feel we could do earlier. 

One of the things you may have meant to do was get on top of your estate plan.  For lots of reasons, now is a really important time to get that done.  But if it feels too overwhelming to tackle the whole subject, here are some easy steps you can take to get through this second wave with a some peace of mind.

Health Care Proxy

This document authorizes someone you trust to make medical decisions if you are unable to do so.  Most people think of this as an "end of life" issue, but it is equally important for situations where you may be temporarily incapacitated.  For example, if you contract the virus and are sick enough that you cannot meaningfully participate in decisions about your care.  You will almost certainly recover, but in the meantime it can be confusing and distracting for your family and your health care providers to not have clear direction.

A valid health care proxy for you, your spouse, and your children if they are over the age of 18, can solve this problem.  It simply requires a form with the required language, properly executed and witnessed, that you can give your proxy in case anything happens.  For the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency in Massachusetts, we are offering to prepare this document for you free of charge. 

Temporary Guardianship for Minors

You may know that you can appoint guardians for your young children in a will, in case you and your spouse pass away at the same time.  What you may not know is that you can sign a temporary authorization that will allow a trusted friend or relative to take immediate guardianship if you are both unable to care for them temporarily. 

This could happen, for example, if both you and the other parent are infected and hospitalized with COVID-19  This simple form can allow you to know that someone will be able to step in and care for your children without red tape if that happens.  It will give your appointed temporary guardian the legal authority not only to take physical custody, but also to interact with your child's school, doctor, or other providers.  These people are restricted by various privacy laws, and may not be able to even speak with your guardian about your children without proper documentation.

Unlike other estate planning documents, you cannot simply sign this and leave it in a file until it is needed.  This is because it is by nature temporary, and expires within a few months of you signing it.  You can, however, have it fully prepared and ready to sign, so that if you or your spouse begins showing symptoms, you can sign it and know that there is a contingency plan for your children.

Activating an Existing Health Care Proxy

If you are the health care proxy for an elderly parent, especially if that parent has cognitive issues or dementia, this is important for you to know.  A health care proxy is only legally binding after a health care provider has deemed the patient unable to make medical decisions on their own behalf. 

In normal times, this is not usually a problem.  You either already have a relationship with your parent's providers, or a physician in a hospital setting will make that determination when you admit your parent or bring them to the emergency room.  COVID complicates everything, including this.  Most hospitals have enacted strict visitor's policies, and many will not allow any visitors whatsoever in the emergency room. 

This means you could find yourself excluded from the health care providers' interactions with your parent, even if they are unable to explain their symptoms or participate in their care.  This not only could compromise their care, but could be an extremely distressing and frightening situation for your parent. 

As we enter this second wave, if you hold a health care proxy for an elderly parent, you should consider speaking with their primary care provider to make sure there is a note in their record about their capacity to make decisions, so that you have some legal standing to make sure you can be present with them if they have to go to the hospital.

How We Can Help

We will prepare and help you execute a health care proxy, 100% free.  We know these are tough times, and if we can help bring peace of mind in this one small way we are happy to do so.  Just give us a call at (781) 784-2322, or use the button below to request a call back from a member of our team.
Request a Call Back
2 Comments
Duane Briggs link
10/9/2022 02:47:15 pm

Wife fight student office officer and. Open team stop practice star. Official cost finish consumer.
Perhaps accept talk management material film. Picture sister government store such positive.

Reply
Coupons Plus Deals link
1/18/2023 07:12:51 am

Excellent article! Thank you for your excellent post, and I look forward to the next one. If you're seeking for discount codes and offers, go to couponplusdeals.com.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Call (781) 784-2322

Sharon MA

46 South Main Street
​Sharon MA 02067

(781) 784-2322
Serving Eastern and Central Massachusetts
Greater Boston Referral Resources
slnlaw solutions
Refer a Friend
slnlaw publications and interviews
​slnlaw privacy policy
Chester MA
26B Main Street
Chester MA 01011
(413) 667-2322
Serving Western Massachusetts
Western MA Referral Resources

Copyright 2022, slnlaw
  • Home
  • Employment Law
    • Guide To Employment Law Content
    • Employment Contracts in Massachusetts
    • Discrimination in the Workplace
    • Employment Termination >
      • Massachusetts Paid Family Leave
      • Severance Pay
      • Unemployment in Massachusetts
    • Sexual Harassment at Work >
      • Sexual Harassment in a Small Business
      • Sexual Harassment and Non Disclosure Agreements
      • Sexual Harassment and Remote Work
    • Wage and Hour Laws >
      • Overtime Law >
        • Overtime Exemptions
        • Employee Travel Time
        • Federal or State Overtime Law
      • Massachusetts Wage Act >
        • Payment of Commissions
        • Wage Deductions
        • Late Payment of Wages
        • Paid Time Off
    • Independent Contractor Law
    • Non Compete Agreements >
      • Are non competes enforceable
      • Massachusetts Non Compete Act
      • Pre 2018 Massachusetts Non Competes
  • Estate Planning
    • Guide To Estate Planning Content
    • Legacy Protection
    • Why You Need an Estate Plan
    • Why You Don't Have an Estate Plan
    • Estate Planning Documents >
      • Children with Special Needs
    • Planning for Assisted Living
    • Probate Process
  • Business Law
    • Guide To Business Law Content
    • Small Business Law
    • Business Contract Basics
    • Civil Suit Defense
    • Legal Issues for Start Ups
    • Trademark Basics
    • How to Incorporate
    • Sale of Business
  • About
    • Reviews
    • Slnlaw Offices
    • slnlaw core values
    • Publications and Interviews
    • New Client Intake and Consultation
    • Contact
  • Attorneys
    • Emily Smith-Lee >
      • 2018 Lawyer of the Year
    • Jenna Ordway
    • Rebecca Rogers
    • Sharleen Tinnin
    • Elijah Bresley
  • Legal FAQs
    • Estate Planning FAQs
    • Probate FAQs
    • Small Business FAQs
    • Wage Act FAQs
    • Commission Pay FAQs
    • Overtime FAQs
    • Independent Contractor FAQs
    • Non Compete FAQs
    • Employment Discrimination FAQs
    • Employment Termination FAQs
    • Massachusettts Unemployment FAQs
    • Severance Package FAQs
    • Medical Leave FAQs
    • Sexual Harassment FAQs
    • Employer FAQs
    • Civil Lawsuit FAQs
  • Blog