COVID and Nitrile and Masks, Oh My!

The photo to the left is the Jacobson Law Firm crew, all gloved and masked up, per our COVID-19 protocol when clients come in to execute their estate planning documents.  I'm immensely proud of all of them.  I also had my first probate hearing via Zoom this afternoon, proving up a lost will by video.  It was a little awkward but it worked.  Well.  Judge Vasquez in Probate Court 2 has the process down pat.  We've filed half a dozen documents that usually require notarized signatures but we've used the statutorily authorized unsworn declaration language instead (it's been there for years but hardly anybody ever used it in court proceedings before now).

What I'm finding is that the more of the "standard practices" that get waived for practical reasons during this time, the easier the process is.  Which makes me wonder: when COVID/stay home/wear PPE, etc. is over, why not institute a new test for what's necessary?  Seriously, shouldn't the test for whether we re-institute some process be that the person wanting to do so has to prove it's necessary and not just "the way we've always done it"?  Because the ingenuity, practicality and creativity of the American people in finding work-arounds that actually work - a long tradition of this great nation - has once again triumphed.  We should take pride in that and remind ourselves that "Because" is never a good answer to, "Why do we do it this way?".

Stay safe, wash those hands, be smart and be creative - it's the American way.

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