Wills and Estates

Do you need a will and powers of attorney? Ensure You and Your Loved Ones are Looked After

Are you married or living with a partner? Do you have kids, own property, assets or investments? Then you need a Will and Powers of Attorney. Contact us today, and we will make sure that the best interests of you and your loved ones are looked after. In fact, we were voted Hamilton’s Best Law Firm in the platinum category of Wills and Estates for the years 2018 and 2019, with more to come.

Wills, Powers of Attorney and Estates: Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to do before creating a Will, Powers of Attorney and Estates document?

Before booking your consultation, please be prepared with the following information:

A complete list of your assets and investments, and where they are located. The monetary amount is not necessary, but you should be able to advise as to where your property is located and which bank your investments reside in, for example.
A list of your beneficiaries, as well as their full names (ie: their names on their birth certificates) and Date of Births.
If any of your beneficiaries or attorneys were not born a Canadian citizen, you must be able to advise as to their current status, where they were born, or when they received their citizenship or permanent residency.
Which banks and financial advisors you are working with.
Who you would like to be your Executor, as well as your Alternate Executor.
Specific bequests ie: What you would like your beneficiaries to receive.
The names of your chosen Powers of Attorney. You will need to choose one or more people to be your Powers of Attorney for property and financial matters, and/or for matters of personal care (ie: health care), should you ever become incapacitated.

What is an Executor of a Will?

The Executor of your will is the person(s) who will be responsible for executing your final wishes as outlined in your Will. They are responsible for ensuring that all beneficiaries receive their bequests and whether or not any conditions have been met if required.

Can my Executor and Powers of Attorney also be Beneficiaries?

Your Executor, Powers of Attorney and Beneficiaries can all be the same person, or different people. During your free consultation, we will discuss what is best for you and your loved ones in the context of your specific personal situation. There is no one “right” way or person to choose, as it entirely depends on your personal situation. Contact Wissenz Law today for your free consultation, voted Best Law Firm in the category of Wills and Estates.

What is a “Powers of Attorney”?

When you create a Will, you will also need to choose your Powers of Attorney. These are the people (or person) who will be responsible for decisions concerning your finances and personal care should you ever become incapacitated due to injury or illness.

You will need to choose one or more people to be your Powers of Attorney for property and financial matters, and/or for matters of personal care (ie: health care), should you ever become incapacitated and not be able to make these decisions for yourself.

The moment that you pass, your Powers of Attorney are rendered moot and the Executor of your Will is responsible for ensuring that your final wishes outlined therein have been met and the bequests are made.