Stuck Inside My Bedroom with the Covid-19 Blues Again

Here we are on week I’m not sure of this quarantine and the future is looking better as long as we continue to social distance. Hopefully, slowly and with informed decisions, we will begin to reopen our economy. In these uncertain times, it’s important to consider some of the legal issues we are facing. 

First, it may seem crass to discuss but now is a good time to think about creating a will. A will is important because it is your chance to leave directions on how you would like your estate handled once you are gone. This is important because if you do not leave a plan, then the State and the law dictates how your estate is divided up and who gets what. While I certainly do not want any of my clients to have to deal with either the death of a loved one or leave their loved ones without a plan, I do think we should all be properly prepared in these uncertain times. 

Second, business help. Right now, Congress is trying to get more funding together for the PPP program and other Corona related aid packages. For those who were laid off or fired because of the virus right now there are unemployment benefits available. If you have not filed already, I would urge you to file if you qualify. The other thing to consider if you own a business is that you may have business interruption insurance available. While there may be exclusions that apply it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have an attorney review your policy to see if there is any coverage that is available to you under your policy. You pay for this coverage for a reason if its applicable you should utilize it.

Third, we should all be minimizing the trips we take outside in order to make sure the curve continues to flatten. However, it is unrealistic to think that we can’t leave at all. Many of you are still working or need to get food and other supplies. If you are out and about, follow the law. The police are out in full force and their attention isn’t as divided. If for some reason you do find yourself involved in a negative interaction with the NOPD, I would urge you to remember these few helpful tips: 1) Be courteous — in my line of work there is a saying; “you can beat the wrap, but you will never beat the ride.” Follow the directions of the officer and try to remain calm. Don’t be rude and don’t give them a reason to arrest you. If they give you a ticket or a summons, take it and then call me. 2) Keep your mouth shut — very few people ever successfully talk themselves out of a ticket, summons, or arrest. In fact, the more you talk the more ammunition you give them to make an arrest or use your words against you. If you are being arrested invoke your right to remain silent and then have someone call me. 3) Write my number down — once you get into the jail facility, they will take your phone. It’s important to have a few important numbers written down so you can make calls to loved ones or to me to help you get out. 

Fourth, life in some small way is still happening. There are still day to day activities that we are dealing with. If during the course of the day you are involved in an accident or injured in some way call me to discuss your options. Some medical clinics continue to provide non-emergency medical care and are being closely monitored with regards to the corona virus. We want to get you the help you need to get back on your feet. 

I hope this has been informative on some level. If you have any questions or concerns please call me to discuss. At this time there are no bad questions and it’s better to be informed than to be shooting in the dark. Call me to discuss any issues or problems you are facing. Remember … When No One’s Carin’ Call McLaren! 505-300-8338!