Covid-19 Office Procedures

Is Your Firm Still Taking On Family Law Cases, Personal Injury Claims, And Estate Planning Clients During The Covid-19 Crisis And Shut Downs? If So, What Is The Best Way To Do That?

We are still taking new cases and clients, as well as answering our client’s questions. Many interviews are being conducted over the phone, as we are trying to eliminate the need for clients to come into the office for their initial interview. We also have the ability to use phone or video conference calls when necessary.

What Is Happening In The Family Courts And Civil Courts For New And Ongoing Cases In Your County?

In Bucks County, we are allowed to file electronically, so if clients want to start divorce actions, there is no prohibition from doing that. The issue is how soon the courts are going to be able to act on those petitions. The earliest open date is May 15^th for our courts in Pennsylvania, so nothing is being scheduled and no notices are being sent out. Philadelphia County, which is a larger county, does not have electronic filing. In that county, we have been discouraged from sending our filings in, including divorce complaints, custody complaints, and modifications.

Should I Wait To Hire An Attorney To Take On My Case Until Courts Reopen?

Before the courts reopen, it is beneficial to consult with and hire a divorce attorney to advise you about what to do, even if you can’t file your complaint yet. There may be other things that you can do or questions that you have about what you should or shouldn’t do. There are things that you are going to want to understand.

In a personal injury case, there is a statute of limitations, so you have to be mindful of the timeframe. In personal injury cases, you don’t need the court system to file your paperwork. Most of that can be taken care of by corresponding with insurance adjusters. As far as estate planning, I am seeing a sharp increase in clients who want powers of attorney done. COVID-19 is showing us how quickly we can go from being healthy to being on a ventilator to losing our lives, so powers of attorney for making medical decisions and financial decisions are more important now than ever.

For more information on COVID-19 Office Procedures, a case evaluation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling or texting (215) 750-9202 today.