Estate Planning

If you have assets and liabilities, you should have an estate plan. Here’s why:

Estate planning gives you the opportunity to make sure that those who depend on you have the resources they need to carry on
You can minimize taxes, ensuring that your wealth goes to your heirs, and not the government
You can ensure that your affairs are settled according to your wishes
Certain circumstances require special consideration:

• Family-owned businesses
• Divorced & blended families
• Families with disabled dependants
• Families responsible for care of elderly relatives
• Same-sex couples.
• Estate Planning Checklist
• Up-to-date will, power of attorney and living will or advance directive to your physician
• Selected an executor for your estate
• Selected a guardian for minor children or other dependants
• Adequate funds to support dependants
• Funds available to pay off debts and obligations
• Liquid assets to pay taxes and other costs of settling your estate
• Specified your funeral wishes

When to revise your estate plan:

• Marriage or divorce
• Birth of a child or grandchild
• Death of your spouse, other heir, or executor
• Acquisition of foreign property
• Change in province or country of residence
• Receipt of an inheritance
• Significant change in your financial situation
• Retirement or job loss
• Occurrence of serious illness or disability
• Starting or selling your business
• Changes in legislation that affect estate planning

If you do not have a lawyer and would like a referral please call us or click on the Referral Request tab on the right side of the page.