Practicing Florida Law and COVID-19
How are Florida lawyers practicing law and social distancing? How has the Coronavirus Disease(COVID-19) affected Florida law firms? Can I still hire a Florida probate litigator to help me with an inheritance dispute? How has technology made practicing law possible during times like these? Are my West Palm Beach estate lawyers still able to take depositions and attend hearings while this is all going on? Are probate and business lawsuits still being filed?
Florida Law and Technology
As West Palm Beach trust and inheritance lawyers, the attorneys at Pankauski Lazarus know the importance of staying focused and productive, even while the world is experiencing a pandemic. Because of the CDC social distancing recommendations and requirements, many Florida law firms, including our litigation firm, are relying on technology to seamlessly continue to work on cases. The good news is that many lawyers today frequently utilize technology in their everyday practices. Therefore, they are familiar with the programs that allow them to virtually lawyer.
For example, CourtCall allows Florida lawyers to easily attend hearings via telephone. Our attorneys are very familiar with CourtCall because we represent clients throughout the state of Florida. Therefore, appearing telephonically can, sometimes, be the most cost effective and convenient way.
Furthermore, our Florida litigators are able to conduct telephone conferences, rather than in-person meetings, with both clients and each other. Zoom is being used for video depositions and some hearings. Plus, on April 1,2013, e-filing became mandatory throughout Florida. Therefore, petitions and court documents are filed via the online portal regardless of the COVID-19 precautions.
Supreme Court Orders: COVID-19
Although many West Palm Beach lawyers are still continuing to work as usual on their Florida cases, The Florida Supreme Court has issued some orders that may affect certain lawsuits. For example, on March 24, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court issued a statewide COVID-19 emergency order suspending jury trials through April 17th. This doesn’t affect many probate or guardianship trials since most are bench trials. For a list of all of The Florida Supreme Court orders regarding COVID-19, visit the Florida Bar website.
If you are involved in probate, guardianship, or business litigation, don’t sit on your rights! Even if you think it is OK to wait until the COVID-19 crisis is over, you may want to make sure that you are not missing important deadlines. For example, if you wish to contest a Florida will, the clock may be ticking. While social distancing, consider consulting with an experienced litigator who can get started on your matter right away. To interview a Florida probate or adult guardianship lawyer, free of charge, call (561) 514-0900 Ext.101.