When I was in school, you always wanted big snows so the school district would call off school.  Well, COVID-19 has just destroyed another time-honored tradition in this country, the SNOW DAY!  Now, when there is a big snow, the school districts just declare that it will be a virtual learning day.  The kids will all have a good time at home in front of their computers, and most of them will learn very little.  Enough is enough.  Covid has changed our lives drastically, and many of the things we enjoy will never be the same.   Let’s not take away the SNOW DAY.   We all suffer enough with our cold Midwestern winters, but the one thing that was good living in the Midwest as child was the SNOW DAY.  They are doing nothing worthwhile in Springfield, so perhaps the legislature can take the lead.   There should be a law in Illinois that when it snows there will be no virtual learning days, only official SNOW DAYS.   Oh well, I guess one can dream!  Life after Covid will never be the same. 

As a result of COVID-19, McPherson Law Offices has responded with changes in office procedure so we could continue to serve our clients during these difficult times.  Heather discusses in a video for the Illinois State Bar Association changes which our office has implemented, and have now been utilized by our clients since March 16, 2020.

At McPherson Law Offices, we are changing with times in order to serve our clients.  We are on our 3rd week of virtual conferences and “drive-thru” signing of estate planning and other documents.  With these new procedures, we can serve clients throughout Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin.  Although we welcome these changes as a way to better serve our clients, like all of you we will miss the way things were.

In the last 20 years there have been three events which have changed the United States and the quality of life in this country.  The first was 9/11, the second the so-called Great Recession, and now the third, the Coronavirus Pandemic which it appears will kill thousands in this country.   Americans now must stand six feet apart, not shake hands, not congregate in groups of more than 10, no more funeral visitations, no more eating in restaurants, and finally the mandatory closing of non-essential businesses.  Most of these restrictions will end in a month, but some will become part of America.  It may be an America of no handshaking, no hugging, and an acceleration of meetings by telephone or video conferences.   There will fewer annual meetings of organizations, and for that matter, fewer weekly and monthly meetings of clubs.   9/11 created a police state at our airports where American citizens are treated with contempt by a new government bureau, the TSA.  The Great Recession destroyed the hope of many of our citizens for economic security, and now the Coronavirus Pandemic may destroy any feeling of intimacy among the citizens of this country.

Even in this new environment, we will continue to serve our clients.  We may be doing it in new ways, but we will continue to deliver the high caliber of legal serves that our clients need and deserve.  We thank all of you during this time and look forward to seeing you soon whether it is in person or virtually.

Our goal is to protect our clients, our staff and our community.  To meet this goal, we have taken the following three actions:

1.  We are meeting via telephone or video conference with our clients and other professionals.
2. We will use e-signing anytime we can.
3. We are developing a procedure for “drive-thru” signing of documents that need witnesses.  We will be ready to sign your trusts, wills, and other documents very soon through our “drive-thru.”

As many of you know, civil matters in the 15th Judicial Circuit have been continued for at least 30 days.  Please check with us if you have questions about your matter.

We are constantly monitoring the situation and are here to help and advise our clients.

Thank you and stay healthy!

The judiciary of Illinois’ 15th Judicial Circuit should be commended for taking swift and decisive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 and for protecting the citizens of the Circuit. Thank you to the judges of the 15th.

Chief Judge Hanson states, “Out of an abundance of concern for the health and well-being of the citizens of Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle and Stephenson Counties, and consistent with the recommendations of the Illinois Supreme Court, as well as the County Health Departments within our circuit many of the civil and criminal cases in the 15th Judicial Circuit will be postponed and suspended beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020 and continuing through Friday, April 17, 2020.”

During the period of suspension, all civil matters not deemed an emergency will be postponed to a future date.

Any clients with questions about the status of their matter should give us a call at 815.235.4411.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a prosperous new year.

The above article was in the Tampa Bay Times recently, but could been in any paper in this country.   An elderly person loses his assets to someone who is supposed to be helping him.  In this case a 92-year-old man was swindled out of more than $500,000 by a person who ran a company called the Florida Guardianship Services.   The man had appointed this person as his agent to manage his finances, and also to make his healthcare decisions.   It is so important that when you are in good health that you execute appropriate documents to provide for the management of your assets and healthcare in the event you are disabled.  In this case the man had done this, but he failed to name a successor agent to serve when his daughter died.  He was in a nursing home, and the home recommended a professional guardian who later stole from him.   It is important that you review your estate planning documents to be sure that they provide for contingencies such as the death of your primary agent.    Unfortunately, there many people out there who will steal your money if given the opportunity.

 It’s nice to know that we have a city manager in the City of Freeport, Illinois who has the time to look for a new job when he is failing miserably in the City of Freeport.   He better hope the folks in Salem, Virginia do not pay a visit to the City of Freeport.  Then again, good riddance!

May you stay warm this cold and snowy Halloween, and get lots of treats! 

McPherson Law Offices is pleased to announce that Heather McPherson has passed the Florida State Bar exam, and that she will be sworn in shortly to become a member of the Florida practicing bar.  Heather took the exam so she can better serve our Illinois clients who have property in Florida, or who have even decided to become permanent residents of Florida.  Many of our clients now have connections to the State of Florida, and the number will probably increase in the future if present trends continue.   In addition to being licensed in Illinois and Florida, Heather is also licensed in Wisconsin.