Are You Legally Prepared for a COVID-19 Outbreak or Quarantine?

Just about every day on the news we hear about COVID-19 new infections and deaths. There are many who expect cases to spike as we enter the flu season in the fall and winter months. However, whether that occurs or not is anyone’s guess. Regardless of what occurs regarding COVID-19, you need to be legally prepared for another outbreak or quarantine.

According to current public health guidelines, if you contract COVID-19 this fall or winter, you are required to quarantine for a period of 14 days. In addition, you are required to be symptom free for a certain number of days before being allowed to leave your home, return to work or return to life as normal.

How to be legally prepared

If you are quarantined, you may need a trusted person to make decisions on your behalf. For this person to legally access medical records, speak with doctors, authorize medical procedures, access bank accounts, pay bills and sign legal documents on your behalf, you need to make sure these decisions are legally documented in a Power of Attorney, Advanced Healthcare Directive, Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will.

This may be morbid and no one wants to think about this. But if you were to die following infection of COVID-19, you need to make sure that you have a plan in place for the proper distribution of your assets after death. The death of a loved one is already a stressful time. However, considering restrictions of a quarantine from COVID-19 or a government shutdown order, planning and settling a person’s final affairs can become even more stressful and time consuming for the family you leave behind.

A properly executed estate plan can make sure that your loved ones are provided for and the settlement process is as smooth as possible. Whether this is a Trust or a Will (or both), you want to make sure that these decisions have been made and you are legally prepared for a COVID-19 outbreak or quarantine this fall and winter.

For more information

If you have questions about estate planning and preparing for a COVID-19 outbreak or quarantine, please contact our Aronoff, Rosen & Hunt office at (513) 241-0400. You can alsouse our contact form to schedule a time to discuss your goals for your family. Our Ohio Estate Planning and Probate attorneys look forward to speaking with you!