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We know how very challenging the last few months have been for everyone. In the last few weeks courts all across California have started to re-open. Almost all courts are open but with limited services. Those service vary by court and by county. Currently there is no consistency in what services are operating and when they are operating. It is court by court, day by day, county by county.  To say there are delays, would be a gross understatement. The average phone call to a clerks office has an hour and fifteen minute wait time. At some courts, the phones are still not being answered regularly. Document filings are backed up as the courts are still trying to process all of the documents filed during the COVID-19 closure. Many courthouses are not allowing in person filings yet, so we must file at a drop box set up outside and then check the docket a few times a day to confirm the filing. I don’t mean for this notice to be all doom and gloom, you have all had enough bad news for a while. But, getting courthouse tasks completed quickly is a bit challenging. Other agencies are also struggling with the chaos of re-opening – IRS, USCIS (immigration), DMV, County Assessors’ office. Please be patient, it is our top priority to manage your filings and process your information. Please be patient with us, we are pivoting quickly to address the issues. We have increased our delivery services to courthouses, and we are all calling courts and clerks regularly to get answers and information. We are going to implement our client portal (through the website) during July which will include real time updates on your matter. We appreciate your business and please know we are working diligently to get your work accomplished!!! Stay healthy! Wear a Mask!

Amid continued concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in an effort to comply with federal, state and local guidelines, the court will be extending the closures of the Corona, Moreno Valley, Temecula and Hemet Courts as well as the Riverside Self-Help Center and the Riverside Records Center from June 15, 2020 through June 26, 2020.

Congratulations, to the students, and their parents, who have finally completed high school and are heading out to college.  Estate planning for college kids? Yes. Many parents will soon watch their children become adults (at least in the eyes of the law) and leave home to pursue their education and career goals. Turning 18, graduating high school, and moving out is a huge accomplishment. And it also comes with some serious responsibilities that probably are not at the forefront of their (or your) mind right now. Once your children become legal adults, many areas that were once under your control are now solely up to them. Let us consider a real-world example of why having an estate plan for a “new” adult is in the best interest of them, and their family. As an example, what if after their 18th birthday, on their way to work or school they are INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT . Who has the ability to answer medical questions, request information from hospital staff, and access financial accounts to keep paying bills in case they are incapable of doing so for themselves? THE HOSPITAL MAY NOT EVEN BE WILLING TO CONFIRM WHETHER YOUR CHILD IS THERE unless your child has authorized you to speak for them as their agent with a validly executed power of attorney their MEDICAL and FINANCIAL responsibilities. Banks will not allow you access to their accounts, even if you still have the same address as your kid, unless you have a power of attorney authorizing you to do so. Even if your child names you as his or her emergency contact with the school, what if he or she gets taken to an off-campus facility for emergency treatment? A scary thought to think that the difference between being there entirely for your child one day and completely gone the next, just because of a birthday. To alleviate this concern and to ensure that this example above does not play out for you or your loved ones, you and your young adult need to execute some basic estate planning documents. Medical Power of Attorney Medical power of attorney allows your child to name an agent (like you), who has the power to make healthcare decisions for them if they’re incapacitated and cannot make such decisions for themselves. For example, this authority allows you to make medical decisions if your child is knocked unconscious in a car accident or falls into a coma due to an illness. That said, while a medical power of attorney would give you authority to view your child’s medical records and make treatment decisions, that authority only goes into effect if the child becomes incapacitated. This means that unless your child is incapacitated, you do not have the authority to view their medical records, which are considered private under HIPAA. HIPPA Authorization Passed in 1996, the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,” or HIPPA, requires health care providers and insurance companies to protect the privacy of a patient’s health records. Once your child becomes 18, no one—even parents—is legally authorized to access his or her medical records without prior written permission. But this is easily remedied by having your child sign a HIPPA authorization that grants you the authority to access his or her medical records. This can be critical if you ever need to make informed decisions about your child’s medical care. Living Will While medical power of attorney allows you to make medical decisions over your child’s ongoing healthcare if they’re incapacitated, a living will provides specific guidelines for how their medical care should be handled at the end of life. A living will details how they want medical decisions made for them, not just who makes them. But such power only goes into effect if the child is terminally ill, which typically means they have less than six months to live. Your child may have certain wishes for their end-of-life care, so it’s important you discuss these decisions with them and have such provisions documented in a living will. For example, a living will allows the child to decide when and if they want life support removed if they ever require it. Since these are literally life-or-death decisions, you should document them in a living will to ensure they’re properly carried out.

The court is beginning to resume hearings in certain case types. When your case is set for a hearing, the court will send you either a Notice of Hearing or Notice of Telephonic Hearing . Review this notice carefully, as it will indicate whether the hearing will be conducted live, in-person or telephonically (by phone). Note: if your notice instructs you to attend a hearing in-person, you must appear at the courthouse; if your notice instructs to appear telephonically, you must attend by phone. If you are not sure, please contact the court or your attorney, if you have one, for assistance. You may also check the status of your case online .  The attached Word document has more information and links to various web pages for easy reference.

We are so excited! We have been given the green light, by the City of Palm Springs, to move into our new space at 201 No. Palm Canyon, Suite 220, Palm Springs, CA 92262.  We will begin the move on June 2nd – and will be open for client appointments by June 8th. The space is beautiful; there is free parking, and lots of it, behind the building. There is elevator and stair access. The office is located on the second floor and has a lovely patio for meeting outdoors. (When it isn’t too hot) We will begin hosting a Wednesday morning coffee hour on June 10th from 10 to 11. There will be coffee and of course pastries and an hour to meet and greet with the team. While the City has approved the opening, we must follow the COVID 19 protocols. Masks must be worn. If you do not have a mask, we will have masks available. We have increased cleaning protocols and we will have hand sanitizer available for all guests. Team members are healthy and if for any reason a team member displays any symptoms of illness they will not be come to the office. Safety First! The website is completed thanks to Elizabeth Chester and Kaelen and Karen (although it will always be a work in progress), we have commenced social media and we have lovely new client and future client gifts thanks to Pastry Swan Bakery . We are committed to developing and growing an inclusive, ethical and transparent business that is consumer focused!