Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Estates

We can draft your Will, Powers of Attorney, and assist with Estate Planning.

Having a properly drafted Will, Power of Attorney for Property and a Power of Attorney
for Personal Care is important, no matter how big or small your estate is. Depending on
your situation, you may also need help with charitable gifts or tax planning, setting up a
trust, or other estate planning services.

Without a proper Will, any assets are passed onto beneficiaries according to provincial
legislation and may not necessarily reflect your wishes. Also, if you fail to appoint an
executor to administer your estate or a guardian to take care of your minor children the
court will need to approve whomever steps forward to fill these roles. These and other
issues can be costly, time consuming, and emotionally draining for those left behind to
tackle these issues.

Having a valid Power of Attorney helps ensure that a person you designate can act
on your behalf when you cannot do so yourself. A Continuing Power of Attorney for
Property gives the designated person (the attorney) power to manage your financial
affairs if you become physically or mentally incapacitated. A Power of Attorney for
Personal Care (sometimes called a Living Will), gives the person you designate the
authority to carry out your wishes for end of life care, or during other periods of your
incapacity.

Our estate lawyers provide advice and representation to estate trustees, testators, and
beneficiaries regarding:

• Wills
• Powers of Attorney
• Trusts
• Probate
• Estate Administration
• Asset Protection & Tax Planning
• Capacity Issues
• Elder Abuse
• Undue Influence over the Testator
• Fraudulent Wills or Powers of Attorney
• Guardianship

Should the need arise, our estate lawyers will represent you in estate litigation or estate
related disputes in or outside of the Courts.

To arrange a consultation about a Will, Trust, Power of Attorney or any other estate
planning needs please get in touch with us. From our downtown Ottawa offices, we represent clients throughout the East Region.