Busy Professionals Want Answers While Navigating the Pandemic

Have you noticed the pandemic has created a plethora of new questions but provided very few answers?

By Bill Saltz, LegalShield

A common question professionals have been asking is about getting one's affairs in order. It shouldn’t take a pandemic to make basic planning a priority, but it has definitely created more urgency for many Americans.

In fact, Fox Business reported: “In the face of COVID-19, Google traffic on how to make a will is at its highest level ever. And yes, you should have a will in place but you should also have in place a health care power of attorney and a property power of attorney, in case you need a loved one to make a decision for you, should you or your loved ones become unable to make decisions about health care or assets. A health care Power of Attorney is also important if you have adult children (at college or out of the house); otherwise, you won’t be given access to their medical information or be able to weigh in on your children’s treatments, once they are legally adults.”

Some common questions to consider:

• Is my estate planning in order? Is my will prepared and updated?

• If I get sick, should I set up a Power of Attorney so a family member can make decisions for me?

• Are there any legal documents I need to bring with me to the hospital?

While estate planning is vitally important, it’s not the only thing weighing on people’s minds right now.

Yahoo Finance reported a recent survey that an estimated 59 million people in the U.S. have lost money because of cancellations of pre-paid travel, sporting events, concerts, Broadway shows, business conferences, weddings, and more.

Furthermore, the survey found that “Refunds have been hard to come by. Only 30 percent of people in the U.S. who spent money on cancelled plans have received or will get the full amount back.”

Some common travel questions during the pandemic include:

• If I cancel my trip, do I have a right to get a refund on my hotel, plane ticket, etc.? • My cruise was canceled due to a travel ban. What are my rights? • I’m a student and I’m concerned about my travel or studies abroad. What should I do?

• I’m trapped overseas and need to get back home. What are my options? Finances are also a major concern during these uncertain times. A recent survey by The Harris Poll found that nearly nine in 10 (88 percent) Americans say the COVID-19 crisis is causing stress on their personal finances.

Some common questions include:

• Will the bank foreclose on my home if I miss a mortgage payment due to governmental action and lost wages? • What are my rights if there is a run on the banks? • Can my landlord evict me or can the electric company disconnect me if I don’t pay my bill on time? • Are there any specific legal steps I can take to protect my wealth?

For parents with children in school, this is another area of unprecedented uncertainty and concern.

Some common questions include:

• My child's school is closed. What options related to their education are available to me?

tuition, and food plans? • My child is overseas and needs to get back to the U.S. What options do we have?

Another area of concern which has heightened during the pandemic is an increase in sophisticated scams and identity theft.

One of the latest is identity thieves capitalizing on increasing unemployment rates to receive money in our name. As a record number of Americans continue to file for unemployment, identity thieves are taking advantage of the situation by committing unemployment fraud against overwhelmed state agencies.

But it’s not just state programs that are paying the consequences. Criminals are using stolen personal information of individuals to make fake claims. People are discovering that identity thieves have fraudulently filed for unemployment using their name after receiving details about their benefits from the state.

Another new scam is fraudsters setting up fake testing sites to prey on those wishing to be tested for COVID-19. AARP reported that “People seeking the tests were told to pay $240 in cash or give their Medicare or Medicaid cards and Social Security cards to verify their identity, and that if they were enrolled in the government health care plans, the plans would be billed.”

Additionally, USA Today reported that “Hacking incidents have climbed 75 percent in North America and 125 percent in Europe in recent months on information technology systems leveraging COVID-19, much of it at health care facilities, says Wendi Whitmore, a cybersecurity expert and Vice President of IBM X-Force.

nerable. Electronic health records, according to an FBI report, are more valuable than a credit card number because health records can be used to file fraudulent insurance claims, obtain prescription medication and advance identity theft.”

So what about you? What questions have you had during the pandemic?

If you’re interested in qualified answers and support for questions that come up, the Colorado Association of REALTORS® is now making resources available that are provided by LegalShield and IDShield.

LegalShield provides a full-service in-state law firm on “speed dial” to help you navigate a variety of everyday issues, such as preparing your will by experienced attorneys without leaving your house and reviewing contracts for a lease or purchase. They will also assist in consumer matters, mortgage and refinancing, landlord/tenant issues, credit disputes, tax questions, child support/custody matters, and answer any other personal or business legal-related questions you have.

IDShield provides industry-leading 24/7 proactive monitoring of your identity, and is the only provider where a simple phone call puts you in touch with a dedicated licensed fraud investigator who will provide complete identity restoration services (100 percent success rate) all backed by an Unlimited Service Guarantee.

Everyone deserves Legal and ID protection. And now through CAR, you can afford it.

For more information go to http://www.shieldcorealtors.com/ or click here to register for our upcoming statewide webcast.

Questions? Your VIP Contact Bill Saltz at 888.499.3221 or Bill@BillSaltz.com.