It has been widely reported that the corona virus pandemic has recently hit Texas hard. While Texans are resilient and have not experienced the rates of death as high as many other places, the larger counties in Texas have experienced hundreds of deaths attributed to the virus. Not only has the virus contributed to deaths, but the virus has resulted in many businesses, including law firms, shutting their physical doors in favor of remote working options.
In Harris County alone, a recent study showed that the new case filings in the probate courts in April and May 2020 was 30% lower than the same months in 2019 and in January and February 2020. The decreased filings is attributable to the fact that clients and attorneys alike are not able to engage in the legal process as they once were. Likewise, many of the probate lawyers who have historically handled many of the cases in the probate courts are themselves individuals who are in higher-risk age groups and having to take extra precautions to protect their safety.
While the demand for probate attorneys may have dipped for a while, one inescapable trust exists – one thing in life you can always count on is death. All of the cases that have not been filed during the pandemic will eventually be filed. Likewise, there will be increased filings related to those who die from the corona virus. All of these issues will result in a small tidal wave of probate filings either in late 2020 or early 2021. That tidal wave will likely affect the probate courts for many months in 2021.
At the outset of the pandemic, Ford + Bergner LLP took quick measures to modify our business model so that we could continue to meet all of our clients’ needs, even when we work remotely. In the last couple of months, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of clients wanting to hire us for probate cases. Ford + Bergner LLP has the most dynamic collection of experienced probate lawyers in the state of Texas. Likewise, we have the largest collection of experienced probate lawyers of any boutique firm in Texas. We have the resources and the experience to handle the needs of any client needing probate assistance during and after the pandemic. Please contact us if we can assist you!