Wills & Estates

What is a Will?

A Will is a legal document that takes effect when an individual dies. The purpose of a Last Will and Testament is to provide for the orderly, timely and cost-efficient distribution of your assets upon your death. You will find that the GOLDSTEIN Divorce & Family Law Group has the best wills lawyers in Toronto. We would be pleased to help you make or update your Will. Please call us today at 416-519-5552. You can also submit your query & book your appointment online.

Do I Need a Will?

You might be asking yourself, do I need a Will in Ontario? Do I need a Will in Canada? Do I need legal advice for a Will? Do I need a Will? Do I need a Last Will and testament?

In Ontario, if one dies without a Will, the Succession Law Reform Act will determine who is entitled to your estate, how much they will receive and who can apply to the court to manage your estate. A Will prepared by the best Wills and Estates Lawyer in Toronto allows you to bypass the default legislation and ensures that your specific wishes are followed after your death. A legal Will also allows you to distribute your estate in a cost and tax efficient manner, while protecting your loved ones and family from making the difficult decisions concerning your estate. The best Wills lawyers in Toronto will help you to ensure that this happens.

Do I need a Lawyer to Make a Will?

You might be asking yourself, can I make a Will myself? Can I make my own Will? Do I need a Lawyer to make a Will in Ontario? Do I need a lawyer to Make a Will in Canada?

In order to answer these questions, one has to first understand the contents of a Will. A Will outlines details about the distribution of one’s assets such as bank balances, properties, items of personal value, and investment portfolios. A Will can also outline how one’s minor children or dependants will be taken care of.

A Will provides for an estate trustee or executor who you choose to manage your estate after your death. The estate trustee or executor will often be a trusted family member, friend or lawyer and they will follow the instructions dictated in the Will in carrying out their duties. As you can see, it is very important to find lawyers who offer estate planning services in addition to being the best estates lawyers in Toronto. It is also very important to find an estates lawyer near me.

A Will can also provide for a Trust to hold some of the estate’s property for beneficiaries named in the Will. An individual may opt to provide for a trust in their Will if they wish to ensure that a beneficiary who is a minor does not receive the assets until a particular age.

It is important to note that a Will does not account for all assets and property. Examples of assets that may not be included in a Will include the following:

– real property owned as a joint tenant will not be included in your Will as that property will automatically pass to the surviving owner; and

– a joint bank account for cash and investments shared with another individual will often pass to the surviving account holder.

The GOLDSTEIN Divorce & Family Law Group happens to have the best Wills and Estates lawyer in Toronto. Our offices are also centrally located so if you are asking for a Wills lawyer near me, then we would be more than happy to help. Please call us today at 416-519-5552. You can also submit your query & book your appointment online.

Powers of Attorney:

While a Will accounts for your estate after you have passed, a power of attorney allows you to exercise control in cases where you are physically or mentally incapable of making your own decisions. The most common powers of attorney that accompany a Will are a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property and a Power of Attorney for Personal Care.

A Continuing Power of Attorney for Property allows you to appoint an individual to act on your behalf for your property and finances. In particular, the best estates attorney can collect funds which you are owed, pay bills and manage investments. The Continuing Power of Attorney for Property can take effect immediately or only when you are physically or mentally incapable.

A Power of Attorney for Personal Care allows you to appoint an individual to make personal care decisions for you if you become incapacitated. The Power of Attorney for Personal Care can cover all types of personal care, including decisions about health care, nutrition, clothing, housing, hygiene, safety and consent to medical treatment. Unlike a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property, which becomes effective immediately upon signing, a Power of Attorney for Personal Care cannot be used until you become mentally incapable of making personal care decisions.

The last will and testament lawyers at the GOLDSTEIN Divorce & Family Law Group are ready to assist you. Our Wills and Power of Attorney lawyer is highly regarded and ready to make contact with you. Should you require the best Wills and Power of Attorney lawyers in Toronto or the best Wills and Estates lawyers in Toronto, or if you are simply wanting a wills lawyer near me, then call us today at 416-519-5552. You can also submit your query & book your appointment online.