Estate planning is rarely on the top of anyone’s to-do list. People avoid it for many reasons: they are too busy, they don’t want to think about death, they don’t understand why they need to do it, or they think it doesn’t apply to them. Sound familiar? April 7 to 13, 2019 is Make-a-Will-Week in…
I recently received a letter from a reader asking what the consequences are of dying without a will? Surprising, just 55 percent of British Columbians have a signed, legally valid and up-to-date will. BC’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act (“WESA”) dictates how your estate will be divided if you die without a will. As defined…
Canadians love to give to charity. A 2010 Statistics Canada report suggests that 84% of Canadians over 15 years donated to charitable and nonprofit organizations with average charitable donations of around $446 per year (a total of $10.6 billion a year). Whether to support an organization that has touched their life in a meaningful way, a school or…
When did you last review your estate plan? Every adult should review their estate planning documents on a regular basis. The 3 essential components of an estate plan include Wills, Power of Attorney, and Representation Agreement. The nature of the assets comprising your estate will change over time Federal and provincial laws which will affect your…
Modern estate planning is much more than just a Will and encompasses three key components – Powers of Attorney, Representation (Health) Agreements, and Wills. Every adult needs a Will. Why? A Will is the best way to ensure that the people, charities and organizations a Will-maker cherishes most receive the benefit of an estate. A…
Just over one half of B.C. adults have a valid Will, yet many of us fail to regularly review and update our estate planning documents to ensure that they continue to reflect our current situation and wishes. Updating your will is important. A comprehensive personal and estate plan for B.C. adults includes not only a…
There is no such thing as a “basic” or one size fits all estate plan. However, I rarely meet a new client who doesn’t think their situation is “very simple” and all they need is a “basic will”. In my experience the majority of clients have one or more special considerations for estate planning that…
As soon as the warm spring weather arrives, so do the scores of Albertans, seeking sun, golf, boating, great food and wine. It’s a well-understood phenomenon in the Okanagan that many Albertans choose to invest in a vacation property in BC. However, the implications of estate planning for Albertans who own property in BC are…
Parenting a child who lives with mental illness or addiction can be heartbreaking, challenging and exhausting for parents and other family members. Once an adult, a child living with mental illness or addiction can create a lifelong emotional and financial commitment from the parents. When engaging in estate planning, a parent with a child living…
My family is very open about our story. We have been raising awareness and financial support for the Foundry Kelowna because we understand firsthand the challenge in finding the right care and resources for a young person to live a healthy and meaningful life. Many families include a family member with a mental, psychological or…
