Resources
Estate Planning Weekly COVID-19 Update – 04.14.20
This weekly COVID-19 update is brought to you by our Chambliss Estate Planning team. We are sharing articles, legal developments, external resources, and tips for coping during these uncertain times. Each weekly issue will cover various trends of vital interest in the world of estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning. To be added to our email list, please subscribe.
Dear Clients and Friends:
We hope you and your loved ones have not been affected significantly by COVID-19 or the recent severe weather hitting our region. While most of us are working remotely at present, we are also collaborating to implement creative and resourceful solutions to meet the needs of our clients in this uniquely challenging time.
We are doing planning consultations, document signings, care coordination, drafting of documents, and all related work—in sum, all the types of work we usually do. We have generally moved most meetings to either Zoom video conference or audio conference calls. In person document signings at our office are generally being done abiding carefully by social distancing protocols. Moreover, the governors of Tennessee and Georgia have recently signed executive orders which enable “virtual document signings” for a limited period of time.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can assist you with your elder law, special needs, or estate planning needs.
— Dana, Greg, and your Chambliss team
Featured Article
Remote Witnessing and Notarizing Is Now an Option for Estate Planning Documents
By: Greg Willett
On April 9, 2020, Gov. Bill Lee issued Executive Order No. 26, which temporarily suspends the requirement for “in person” witnessing and notarization of certain documents including Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Deeds, from April 10, 2020, through May 17, 2020.
Documents covered by this Order can be signed by the signatory (the person for whom the documents are prepared), the witnesses, and the notary with each person located at a separate location, provided that the signing must be a physical signing of the documents by the signatory and witnesses (not electronic signing), and must occur via real-time audio and visual communication (Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, etc.) where the signatory, witnesses, and notary can see and hear one another simultaneously. All of the parties must be located in Tennessee at the time of the signing.
COVID-19 Resources
Medicare Is Expanding Telehealth Services During Coronavirus Pandemic
The federal government is broadly expanding coverage of Medicare telehealth services to beneficiaries and relaxing HIPAA enforcement, which will give doctors the ability to provide more services to patients remotely…
CARES Act Essentials: What You Need to Know by Topic
The CARES Act provides more than $2 trillion in economic relief to small businesses, distressed industries, health care providers, workers, and others. We know there’s a lot to digest. So, we have organized brief summaries by intended beneficiary group or industry related to significant provisions of the Act…
How Changes to Claiming Net Operating Losses Under CARES May Impact Taxpayers
Under the CARES Act, taxpayers with 2018, 2019, and 2020 net operating losses (NOLs) may now be able to obtain tax relief by filing amended returns to claim tax refunds by offsetting taxable income from prior years…
Also Check Out…
Council on Developmental Disabilities Announces Funding Available for COVID-19 Technology Needs
The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is encouraging people with disabilities, families of people with disabilities, and disability nonprofit organizations to apply for new, one-time grants through its scholarship fund. The Council special funding grants are to be used for technology to support people with disabilities to grow their leadership skills and stay connected during social distancing with COVID-19.
Board Games, Yoga Mats, and Yeast: What People Are Buying as They Heed Coronavirus Stay-at-Home Orders
“According to Kit Yarrow, a consumer psychologist, people are currently purchasing items based on three needs: to protect, to entertain and to connect.” Click here to read the CNBC article.
Home Activities to Help Avoid Family Boredom While Practicing Social Distancing and Self Isolation
Click to read kidcentral tn’s article on action steps that may help your family avoid boredom and keep your kids’ minds growing.
Chambliss Client Alert on 4/14: Business Tax Relief and Risk Management Measures
Click here to view the following articles: Proactive Steps for Businesses with Potential COVID-19 Losses; Protecting Your Business from Liability for COVID-19 Transmission; and Trade Secret Protection in the Remote Working World.
List of Chattanooga Businesses You Can Support Amid Covid-19 Concerns
This Nooga Today article shares a list of ways Chattanooga residents can support local businesses as coronavirus slows foot traffic.
Coping With COVID-19
How You Can Emotionally and Mentally Support Older Adults During the COVID-19 Outbreak
ComForCare Home Care recently shared tips on how family members and friends can keep a strong bond with loved ones in quarantine and how to help an older loved one stay emotionally and mentally well.
- Chat over the phone or through video.
- Take breaks from the news.
- Watch Tune in Tuesdays.
- Gain a new skill or hobby.
- Watch Netflix together.
ComForCare says, “During this time of uncertainty, it’s extremely important that we band together and lean on each other, even if the way we support each other is a little different than before.”
To read the full article, click here.
How Kirby Copes with COVID-19
While Kirby misses seeing everyone at work, she sure is enjoying time with her little colleagues at the home office.
Our Chambliss team continues to monitor legal developments in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact Jim Catanzaro, Justin Furrow, or your relationship attorney if you have questions or need additional information.
