Estate Planning

Do you know what will happen to your property upon your death? Do you have wishes about the guardianship of your children? Do you want to choose who will handle your estate? Do you want to choose who would make decisions on your behalf in the event of an illness or injury that resulted in you losing capacity? Do you want to give directions about medical treatment?

Our lawyers can assist you in preparing an estate plan to answer these, and other questions. Whether you’ve never had a Will, Personal Directive and Power of Attorney, or whether your family circumstances have changed and you need to update your Will, Personal Directive and Power of Attorney, we can provide you with the necessary guidance to ensure that your estate is protected in the event of your death or incapacity.

Our Will Questionnaire will assist you in beginning to think about the various decisions relevant to your estate plan. Please print and complete the Will Questionnaire and then forward it to wills@strathconalawgroup.com , fax it to 780-449-1222 or drop it off at our reception. A staff member will contact you to schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers to review the Questionnaire and discuss your Estate Plan.

Our rates for preparation of basic Wills, Personal Directives and Powers of Attorney can be found here.

For more information about wills, click here.

For more information about Personal Directives, click here.

For more information about Powers of Attorney, click here.

Wills

What is a will?

A will is a document which comes into effect when you die. In your will, you can give your property to the people or charities of your choice. You can also select a guardian for any minor children and choose the person who will be responsible to administer your estate.

Why do I need a will?

Without a will, your estate will be divided according to the rules in the Wills and Succession Act. If you wish to decide for yourself who will benefit from your property when you die, or wish to leave part of your property to a charity of your choice, you need a will.
A will also enables you to select the person who is responsible to deal with your estate when you die (a Personal Representative). If you have not chosen a Personal Representative, the Estate Administration Act will determine who can apply to do this job.
Finally, you can appoint a guardian for any minor children who survive you and ensure someone you trust will care for your children. Having a will ensures your loved ones have a guide to follow to honor your wishes, and the ability to carry out those wishes through probate.
Not having a will can sometimes lead to greater expenses for your Estate and a greater risk that disputes may arise.

When it is a good time to have a will prepared?

A will can be prepared at any stage of life, but we recommend that you review your Estate Plan regularly, and in any event,when any major life event occurs, such as:

the birth of a child;
the death of a loved one;
after separation or divorce;
when your children reach adulthood.

Enduring Power of Attorney

What is an Enduring Power of Attorney?

An Enduring Power of Attorney (“EPA”) is a document determining who will make financial decisions on your behalf when you cannot make them yourself.

What does an EPA do?

An EPA enables you to appoint someone you trust to look after your finances while you are alive but unable to make decisions for yourself.
You can also indicate your preferences about any financial decisions, such as selling property, making gifts or supporting loved ones.

Why do I need an EPA?

An Enduring Power of Attorney allows you to have input into who makes important financial decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself.
If you do not have an EPA, your loved ones will need to apply to have a trustee appointed for you under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act which can be time consuming and costly.
You also can have input into the decisions that are made and can give direction to your attorney.
You might also want a regular Power of Attorney if you will be travelling and unable to sign documents or manage your financial affairs remotely.

When do you use it?

An EPA comes into effect when you no longer have the ability to make decisions;
EPAs save time and stress for your loved ones in the event you become incapacitated.

Personal Directive

What is a Personal Directive?

A Personal Directive is a document that gives another person the ability to decide where you live, who you associate with, medical care and end of life decisions and decisions about participation in educational, social or employment related activities when you are unable to make those decisions for yourself.
A personal Directive can be as broad or as detailed as you wish.

What does a Personal Directive do?

allows you to appoint a person of your choice to make decisions about such things as your personal care, medical care, your residence and your social needs;
stipulates the level of care and medical intervention you want to have when you cannot make decisions for yourself;
gives your designated decision maker a guide to follow, ensuring they honour your wishes.

Why do I need a Personal Directive?

In our society, people are living longer with conditions that may impair their abilities to make reasoned decisions about their lives;
You can provide guidance to the person making decisions about what type of care you want in the future;
Decisions regarding end-of-life care can be very difficult and stressful, and any guidance that you can provide while you are of sound mind will greatly assist your representative to make decisions the same way that you would have;
If you don’t have a Personal Directive, the process to have a Guardian appointed for you under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act can be very time consuming and costly for your loved ones.

If you require a consultation with a lawyer or are ready to retain a lawyer, please complete our intake form by clicking here. A staff member will contact you within one or two days.