COVID-19 Policy Update
October 20, 2022.
Our firm continues to monitor CDC guidelines, as well as state and local regulations regarding business operations.
For quite some time, we have been offering in-person appointments. If current guidelines remain in-place, masks will not be required for all vaccinated individuals while in our office. If you are not vaccinated, you are asked to continue to wear a tight-fitting mask over your nose and mouth during your appointment and to consider avoiding in-person appointments and utilizing meetings held by video-conference.
We will not ask to see your vaccination record. We are relying on your honesty with this policy. The health of our clients, our team, all of our families and the community continues to remain of utmost importance.
In addition, as video conferencing has proven to be quite successful, we will continue to offer our clients the choice of an in-person appointment or a video conference. Please note, however, that Massachusetts law does requires in-person notarization. Therefore, for any signing meeting that requires documents to be notarized, in-person meetings will be necessary.
Thank you for your continuing understanding and patience.
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May 20, 2021. Our firm continues to monitor CDC guidelines, as well as state and local regulations regarding business operations and re-opening.
We will resume offering in-person appointments in mid-June. If current guidelines remain in-place, masks will not be required for all vaccinated individuals while in our office. If you are not vaccinated, you are asked to continue to wear a tight-fitting mask over your nose and mouth during your appointment and to consider avoiding in-person appointments and utilizing meetings held by video-conference.
We will not ask to see your vaccination record. We are relying on your honesty with this policy. The health of our clients, our team, all of our families and the community continues to remain of utmost importance.
In addition, as video conferencing has proven to be quite successful, we will continue to offer our clients the choice of an in-person appointment or a video conference. Please note, however, that when the state’s emergency order is lifted, the ability to offer virtual signing and notarization appointments may no longer be an option.
Lastly, please be aware that we are experiencing heavy email and call volume. In order to do our best to accommodate everyone, emails and calls are being handled in order of priority. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your continuing understanding and patience.
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COVID-19 In-Person meeting policy change
March 18, 2020. We continue to monitor the quickly changing recommendations and restrictions from our local, state, and federal government concerning the Coronavirus (COVID 19) closely. The health of our clients, our team, all of our families and the community is of utmost importance. I have considered shutting the office down; however, I know that many of our clients urgently need our services and will feel a sense of relief at knowing their planning is complete. I also recognize that for many of our clients who are self-isolating or home from work, this may present an opportunity to get started on their planning.
Our challenge, therefore, is to continue to meet the needs of both client groups while limiting in-person contact and following social distancing and public health recommendations. Thankfully much of our work can be done using email, teleconferences, and video conferences. The one exception to this is document signings that typically require witnesses and a notary. To limit the possibility of transmittal while still meeting the needs of our clients, I am immediately enacting the following precautions to remain in effect until further notice:
- We will convert all meetings that are not required to be in-person to teleconferences or video conferences.
- We will only be scheduling in-person meetings for document signings that require a notary or witnesses.
- We will only schedule in-person meetings in our Beverly office.
- We will no longer be scheduling any meetings in our Woburn office.
- We will contact you before your scheduled in-person meeting to confirm that you are asymptomatic.
- We will contact you approximately one week after your meeting to confirm that you have remained asymptomatic.
I believe that these reasonable steps are the best way to protect our clients, our team, their families, and the community at large. However, we need your help! We encourage all clients with active symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath to immediately consult with their healthcare provider and to cancel your appointment or let us know if you have recently been in our office.
Although the news on the spread of this virus can be very depressing, I am encouraged by the spirit of the people in our area to work together and overcome this challenge.
If you have any questions or concerns about our new policy feel free to reach out to us via email: Grace@blgpc.com or telephone at (978) 825-0033.
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COVID-19 NOTICE
Friday, March 13, 2020
Here at the Bernstein Law Group, PC, we are following the news about COVID-19. We understand that the disruption, if not the illness itself, is already having an impact on our clients and our community.
While we do not believe there is a need to panic, we do think it is important for our team to be prepared so we can protect ourselves and you. We also think it is important for you and your loved ones to be prepared.
Preparing you and your family
Some recommendations we have heard include having some extra food, supplies and medication on hand in the event of sudden closures or quarantines. Please take the time to check on seniors or people in your life who are ill or have mobility issues to see if they need help getting things organized.
It is a wise idea to make sure that yours and your loved one’s medical information is on hand, as well as copies of Health Care Proxies, HIPAA Authorizations and Powers of Attorney so there will be an ability to make medical and financial decisions if you or a loved one suddenly becomes ill.
Preparing at the Bernstein Law Group, PC
At this time, we are still seeing clients in our office, but we are practicing and promoting logical social distancing. Also, we will not be greeting you with a handshake or any other physical contact during this threat. Please don’t take it personally.
When client meetings are held:
- Client meeting room conference tables, door handles and certain other public surfaces will be wiped after each meeting with disinfectant wipes.
- Staff members are required to wash hands frequently using hand soap.
- Staff members and clients are encouraged to use hand sanitizer before an in-person meeting and/or when entering and leaving the office.
- Clients will be advised to reschedule any in person appointments if they or a member of their household is unwell.
To emphasize this last point: If you are sick or symptomatic… please stay home.
We also encourage you to like our FaceBook page to be kept up-to-date on any latest firm news: https://www.facebook.com/BernsteinLawGroup/
We wish you good health in these uncertain times.
Paul Bernstein and the Bernstein Law Group Team