Due to the coronavirus outbreak, we want to assure you that Egan, Flanagan & Cohen remains available to you and will provide you with the legal service you need for yourself, your family and your business. We have the right technology in place to continue working and serving our clients, including remote access capability, as well as telephone, email, and online video conferencing.
The Governor’s COVID-19 Essential Services Order of March 23, 2020 exempts professional services, including legal services. Despite court closures, we continue to service our litigation clients, and we are in regular communication with local, state and federal courts concerning postponements, audio and video hearings, and scheduling challenges. We also continue estate planning and administration services for our clients.
Also included in the essential services are our real estate attorneys engaged in lending services. For those of our clients who may currently be a party to a real estate transaction or who may be refinancing property in the immediate future, we are currently conducting real estate transactions in MA and CT. REBA (Real Estate Bar Association) has presented a request to Massachusetts Governor Baker for the allowance of a 60-day period for on-line rather than in person notarization. We will endeavor to keep you informed of the Governor’s response. In the meantime, by appointment only, we are continuing to conduct real estate closings.
Connecticut Governor Lamont has also restricted the presence of staff at non-essential workplaces. However, as in Massachusetts, Connecticut explicitly recognizes that the provision of legal services is essential, and thus not subject to the workforce restriction. Most lending institutions have closed their branches and require that customers make an appointment for in-person banking. With that in mind, all borrowers must be prepared to wire funds needed to close to the closing attorney.
Our law firm’s primary concern is the health and safety of our clients, staff and attorneys, as well as our entire community. We are monitoring all official sources to ensure we are compliant with the latest recommendations for infection control and overall mitigation efforts against the spread of COVID-19. We encourage phone or video conferences in lieu of personal meetings whenever possible, and we are contacting clients with scheduled appointments to make that adjustment.
For your convenience, a directory of each attorney’s email address and direct telephone line is provided below.