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COVID-19 Update: How We Continue To Serve Our Estate Planning Clients

On Behalf of | Apr 13, 2020 | Other Issues

Although Norton Basu LLP is sheltering in place in accordance with orders from county health officials, our team at Norton Basu continues to serve both our existing and new clients through our completely virtual services.  As we are closely tracking the rapidly evolving public health and community concerns related to COVID-19, rest assured that we are taking all available steps to remain accessible to our clients as we continue to act in accordance with their best interests during this difficult time.

With our ability to conduct a virtual consultation to discuss your wishes and desires, combined with the ability to remotely execute all of your estate planning documents, we can have your entire estate plan in place without you having to leave your house.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at any time at [email protected] or at (408) 850 – 7250 for assistance with your new or existing matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your office currently open during normal business hours?

Yes. Although we are working remotely as a way to keep our staff safe and slow the spread of the COVID-19, our office remains virtually open during normal business hours.

When and how can I contact you?

You may reach us anytime via email or the Contact Us page on our website. We are available by phone at (408) 850 – 7250 during our normal business hours between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Can I have a video conference with you?

Yes, we offer secure Zoom video calls for prospective and current clients.  Just contact our office to schedule a date and time that works for you.

Are you accepting new clients?

Absolutely.  It is business as usual at our firm because have been ready for remote working in full capacity for several years now. Our process is completely virtual for estate planning, trust administration, and probate matters. Signings and notarization are arranged to comply with all social distancing guidelines, including the use of gloves, face masks, disposable pens, and disposable ink pads for thumbprints for notarizations.  A six-foot separation is maintained at all times during signing. We can also arrange for remote online notarization.

Can I get my documents witnessed and notarized?

We always serve as the disinterested witnesses for our clients to help them avoid the hassle of having to inconvenience friends and family. We also notarize all documents for our clients and have arranged to do this under the new social distancing norms as well.  If you do not want to leave your home, we can arrange for a completely remote online notarization. Contact our office for more information.

How can I get updates regarding the status of my case or legal matter?

As always, feel free to reach out to either Ms. Basu or Ms. Norton for any questions or updates regarding the status of your case. We always have time to answer your questions.

Are courts of law still open in my area? Will my court date be rescheduled?

For the Superior Courts in the counties of: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, Riverside, Stanislaus and Los Angeles, the clerk’s offices are closed until further notice and all cases have been continued until further notice. Most courthouses will remain open only for time-sensitive, essential court hearings and matters only, and only authorized persons are allowed to enter any courthouses.

All civil trials and non-emergency hearings will be rescheduled, including hearings on probate and conservatorship matters. They will be continued to a new date, and notices will be mailed out after the courts reopen. We will notify you as soon as we learn of new hearing dates and the appropriate next steps.

In the meantime, stay safe and stay healthy.

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
California: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
Santa Clara County: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/home.aspx
Santa Clara County Superior Court: http://www.scscourt.org/general_info/news_media/covid19.shtml
Alameda County Superior Court: http://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/Pages.aspx/COVID-19
San Mateo County Superior Court:  https://www.sanmateocourt.org/
San Francisco County Superior Court: https://www.sfsuperiorcourt.org/general-info/Information-Regarding-Coronavirus-And-Court-Operations
Stanislaus County Superior Court: https://www.stanct.org/
Riverside County Superior Court: https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/PublicNotices/COVID-19-Court-Operations.php
Los Angeles County Superior Court: http://www.lacourt.org/