Estate Planning In A Pandemic
Susan Rothwell, Partner
April 13, 2020
Note: Current Status of the Surrogate’s Courts. As of this writing, the New York Surrogate’s Courts, which deal with wills, estate and trust issues, guardianships and adoptions, are open right now on a limited basis and only for essential and urgent matters. What constitutes an essential and urgent matter for the Surrogate’s Court is being decided on a case-by-case basis and depends on which county you are in. At the moment, anyone in NY county who needs access to a Surrogate’s Court Judge on this “essential” basis may have a private phone call with the Chief Clerk guidance and must submit any paperwork by regular mail. No one may walk into the court without calling ahead. All trials and hearings including guardianships and adoptions are postponed until further notice.
Estate Planning Now
In light of the devastating death toll and the ongoing threat of contracting COVID-19, it’s not surprising if you’re thinking about estate planning. Here are some things to think about when you review your estate planning documents or consider drafting new ones if you don’t yet have a will or a trust. Read More