CORONAVIRUS LOCKUP IN SPAIN SINCE SATURDAY THE 14TH OF MARCH.:
If you are presently using a lawyer in Spain to handle a conveyance , probate, Spanish wills or litigation or are in need of hiring a lawyer to do this kind of work we know you will have many questions in relation to how the pandemic will affect your case.
What follows below is an explanation of how we are handling things. Most lawyers will be in the same situation and will be handling your cases in the same way.
We like to take care of our clients
This enduring value guides us as we face the difficult challenge of responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic last Wednesday.
Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this unprecedented event and we appreciate the healthcare workers, the doctors and nurses who are working 24/7 day and night, the local communities and the governments around the world who are on the front line working to contain this coronavirus.
Doctors in Spain have been asking for everyones collaboration to avoid catching and therefore spreading the virus. The government has now established limitation to our movement by law.
I want to thank you in advance for your understanding and putting your trust in us.
Until this nasty temporary situation is over, we have reorganised and I consider we are now in a position to be able to resolve any issues exactly the same, or even better than if we where all working at the office.
CORONAVIRUS : THE SITUATION WITH CONVEYANCING, PROBATE, LITIGATION AND WILLS AS OF TODAY 27th of March 2020.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Are you open for business ?
Yes, we are. Everything is perfectly under control. Our response time will be as good as ever or even better. We had to scramble after the announcement of the national emergency and to talk to notaries , judges , inheritance tax office, etc to see who would be open for business, what offices we could visit and how things would work . We had to organise I.T. issues to make sure we could work from home and prepare a few extra powers of attorney for clients that have suddenly realised they will not be coming to Spain for completions etc. There are certain things that can not be done but in general we continue to work as normal.
Are you working from home or in the offices ?
We are all working from home except Maria Alonso that has chosen to work alone from the office in Mojacar (where we keep all our historical files)
Can I call you as normal ?
Yes. You can call any of the 3 offices and you will always receive a reply as if we where at the office. The person that answers the phone will be able to pass your through to whoever it is you wish to talk to exactly as if we where there. No changes.
Are you working on my file?
Yes. Nothing has changed in this respect. All our documents and files for many years have been uploaded to our cloud and therefore even though at home, work continues as normal.
For a long time I have been working from 3 offices so wee have always had everything on the cloud. If exceptionally we are short of any historical document Maria scans it to the cloud for us to use. No changes.
Can I visit the office to deliver documents or have a quick chat with Maria ?
I am afraid not. Please call us and we will decide how to deal with the situation. Please remember this is for everyones safely, specially those that are more elderly .
Can I make an appointment to see you at the office?
We would organise a videoconference or phone call with you. As long as you have a mobile phone or a computer the video conference can be organised very easily. We have done many in the last week and clients find it just as useful as a traditional appointment.
Even if you have never done one before it is extremely easy. We can do it over Skype , Whatsap , Facetime , or a dedicated Videoconference app that we use that simply requires you clicking on a link we send you by e-mail.
Are you taking on new cases or just finishing the ones you have started ?
We definitely wish and hope (as this may go on for some time) to continue to take on new cases.
There is no change whatsoever, as with the adjustment we have made our clients will receive the same service as before, perhaps even with more communication.
I need you to handle a case for me but I am in another country and can not get to Spain now or in the near future , how can you help me?
We can have an initial appointment to discuss your case by videoconference with you advancing by e-mail the documents to discuss .
If you then hire us for example for probate , litigation , conveyancing etc we would simply send you a power of attorney for you to sign in the U.K.
How are you dealing with Conveyancing ?
- Initial appointment by videoconference.
- If ini the U.K. we would send you a power of attorney to sign there.
- The rest as usual.
How are you dealing with Spanish wills or changes to an existing one ?
No problem to make a new will or change the clauses of an existing one. We would do it in 4 simply steps:
- You fill in and send us a form that we would e-mail to you
- We will organise an appointment (phone or video conference) to discuss .
- We prepare and send you a draft for your agreement.
- We sign the will in front of our local notary.
How are you dealing with Probate ?
- Initial appointment by videoconference.
- If ini the U.K. we would send you a power of attorney to sign there.
- The rest as usual.
How are you dealing with Litigation?
- Initial appointment by videoconference.
- If in the U.K. we would send you a power of attorney to sign there.
- The rest as usual.
How are you dealing with Tax issues?
As usual.
Thank you for reading.
