These are uncertain times for all of us. Many of our clients have expressed concerns and “what if” questions about their families and their lives and what would happen to their assets if they were gone. To provide some certainty, we’ve informed our clients that wills and powers of attorney (POAs) can now be completed with our assistance from the safety of their own homes. Governor Pritzker issued an Executive Order allowing us to finalize estate planning documents remotely. Now you can prepare a will, powers of attorney, and even a trust without leaving your home. Essentially, the only device needed to remotely sign your documents is a personal computer, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone, as long as they are equipped with a camera and a microphone. I can help you create wills, POAs, and trusts from home during this crisis. We are excited to report that I am currently assisting a number of new estate-planning clients since the first stay-at-home order was issued. Without a will or a trust, your assets could pass in a very different way from your choosing, and the person handling your affairs could be someone other than whom you prefer. By creating a will...

Illinois Lawmakers Pass Legislation For COVID-19 Front-Line Workers, First Responders For Workers’ Compensation Benefits  The Illinois General Assembly passed Illinois House Bill 2455 on May 22, 2020 that lowers the burden of proof for first responders and front-line workers who contract COVID-19 to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The new legislation assumes that essential workers who contract COVID-19 contracted it on the job if their employment exposed them to the general public or a workplace location with more than 15 people, unless their employer proves otherwise. In order to be considered for workers’ compensation benefits, the employee should obtain confirmation of COVID-19 or COVID-19 antibodies by either a licensed medical professional or a positive laboratory test. Protections of Illinois House Bill 2455 are only effective from March 9, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The new law reflects an emergency rule previously passed by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) on April 13, 2020, as critics of the rule argued it was too costly for business owners and was instituted without the proper legislative process. The IWCC later repealed the rule on April 27, 2020. Supporters of the law argue that front-line workers potentially exposed to COVID-19 should be guaranteed the protections of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act because they...