Creating an estate plan takes time, money and energy. After putting so much into it, you should feel confident that when the time comes, others can carry out your wishes properly. However, accessibility issues could prevent them from doing this. No one can find your...
A new year provides us with a new chapter and a new year to look forward to. It also marks the time when laws and tax changes go into effect. With so much newness surrounding us, now can be an excellent time to take a fresh look at your estate plan. Doing so can help...
Discussing end-of-life plans and legacies is something that can make people uncomfortable. As a result, too many people pass away or become incapacitated without having talked about their wishes with their loved ones. Rather than put off this discussion with the...
As parents get older, they can experience mental and physical conditions that make them vulnerable to unscrupulous parties looking for financial gain. In too many cases, these parties are family members or caregivers who are in a position to take care of a parent,...
People who do not have significant assets may assume they will not benefit from an estate plan. However, every adult has interests worth protecting. For instance, if you become incapacitated or pass away, do you know who will manage your digital accounts and property?...
Granting someone the authority to act on your behalf is not a decision to make lightly. Even if you love and trust the other person, they are still independent people capable of making mistakes and bad choices. As such, it can be wise to consider placing limits on the...
If you get sick or pass away unexpectedly, your loved ones may have some painful decisions to make. Matters like deciding in favour or against medical treatments, managing finances and finalizing a person's affairs can be complicated and upsetting. To ensure others...
In last week's blog posts, we discussed Ministerial Orders No. M161 and No. M162, which make it possible for estate law practitioners to remotely witness Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Representation Agreements. This is an important development made due to the...
When Remote Witnessing is Not an Option In our last "New Normal" blog post, we discussed how remote witnessing of wills, powers of attorney, and representation agreements is possible in light of Ministerial Orders No. M161 and No. M162, made May 19, 2020. While many...
"New Normal" - Remote Witnessing for Wills and Powers of Attorney We are jumping ahead a couple of topics in our blog series "New Normal" given a recent Ministerial Order. Over the last couple of months, estate planning practitioners have been grappling with how to...