COVID-19 is an Ideal Time to Discuss, Review Estate Planning

Fortunately, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has allowed estate planning attorneys like David to put plans together remotely during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

Under her April 8, 2020, executive order (“Encouraging the use of electronic signatures and remote notarization, witnessing, and visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic”), people can sign their estate plan documents such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney and deeds in the comfort of their own homes, so long as the parties:

• have access to a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet device that has video capability;
• use two-way, real-time audiovisual technology that can record the meeting, such as Zoom, BlueJeans, FaceTime and Skype;
• provide photo identification during the conference
• can physically sign documents where instructed; and
• have the ability to mail, fax or email the signed document to the notary on the day it’s signed.

The convenience of an at-home set-up, along with the free time Michiganians now have because of the stay-at-home order, makes this an ideal moment to establish or update your estate plan.

“For many people, unfortunately, their lives have slowed down by this COVID-19 time period,” David says. “Take the opportunity now. Realize that you have some additional time, and now the governor has made the opportunity available to you [so] you can plan from the beginning to the end. Realize that this is a time for you to take advantage.

“Carpe diem, if you will, for your own self.”