Wills and Estate Planning in General:
Every adult who owns assets or has a spouse or young children should, at the very least, have a will. If you die without a will, your property will be divided according to B.C. law (often to people you might not want), and the time and expense to administer your estate will be significantly greater. You’ll also be giving up the right to appoint the guardian of your choice for any children in your care and you will have no control over who gets how much of your estate and when.
Every person that we have ever had the pleasure of assisting with their estate planning needs has expressed the following:
- They want their assets to pass to the people or charities they choose following their death;
- They want their estates to pay as little in taxes and expenses as possible;
- They want their estates finalized quickly and without stress to their families; and
- They do not want estates fought over when they are gone.
Estate planning involves us getting to know your wishes, analyzing your assets, liabilities and family dynamic and assessing what would be the simplest, safest and most cost-effective method of achieving those goals.
Depending on your goals and circumstances we may discuss with you any one of or a combination of the following documents (for further information please refer to our articles):
- Wills
- Joint tenancy of assets
- Corporate ownership of assets
- Powers of Attorney
- Representation Agreement
- Trusts
We know that clients often instruct us at difficult times to deal with sensitive matters and understand the importance of giving clear, timely and practical advice.
Spending time with a lawyer to plan your estate could save your loved ones’ time and effort and you may be able to reduce probate fees and taxes that your estate would otherwise pay.