Wills & Estates Lawyers in Edmonton
The team at Forum Law is committed to being among the best lawyers for wills and estate planning in Edmonton. Protecting your assets for your loved ones is crucial, and it’s never too early to put a plan in place.
We work with clients on a range of plans, from large, complicated estates to wills in their simplest form. No matter what your financial situation looks like, getting the right advice on the best way to achieve your estate planning goals in the most tax-efficient and cost-effective manner possible is essential. Contact us to learn more about our will and estate planning services.
Consult Wills & Estate Lawyer
What are wills and estates?
It is extremely important that you take the time to consider an estate plan to ensure your assets are preserved for your loved ones. You need advice about the best way to achieve your estate planning goals in the most tax efficient and most cost effective manner possible.
Wills
Planning for the distribution of your assets is crucial, but it can be very complicated. These complexities can stem from your family structure, your asset holdings, or the choices you make during your planning process. At Forum Laws our trust wills and estate lawyers will ensure your wishes are legally documented with clarity and are carried out in the manner you personally intended. This will ensure your beneficiaries are not forced to look to the courts for guidance and decision-making when passing the estate, which can be extremely costly.
How does it work?
There are two portions of the wills & estates process that includes a lawyer: writing a will and the reading of a will.
Writing: From beginning to end to each and every detail, a lawyer can sit down with you one-on-one and create a will based on the entirety of your estate.
Reading: With wills coming in many forms, unless your will is simple and straightforward, a lawyer to read it (known as a probate lawyer) will be required. With testamentary trust joint wills, living wills and joint wills all be possibilities, the jargon often used can be extremely confusing and will require a professional to decipher the intention of the will on your behalf.
You should also consider how the following may impact your estate planning decisions:
- 1) How do I appoint a guardian for my child?
- 2) Who will ensure my assets pass to my beneficiaries?
- 3) Who will manage my assets for my minor children until they reach the age of majority, or for my other dependents?
Enduring Powers of Attorney
The Enduring Power of Attorney allows the person of your choosing to take authority over your assets if you become incapacitated. This allows the person you have named to use your assets to take care of you and your family using your assets quickly and easily. This ensures your assets will be preserved to the maximum extent possible as well as ensuring that you and your family remain as comfortable as possible; without delay or interruption. This can be a significant comfort to your loved ones if this situation arises.
Personal Directives
When a family member loses mental capacity due to an accident or illness it is devastating for the family. It is even more traumatic if this happens and you have not named someone to look after your personal and medical needs. A Personal Directive is known in some jurisdictions as a “Living Will”. This document ensures that the person you have selected is able to quickly and easily become your advocate and decision maker regarding all medical and personal decisions, to ensure your wishes are respected throughout the remainder of your life, including end of life decision making.
Changes to the Existing Will
There are times when financial and familial situation can lead to you bringing about changes in your will.
- A divorce or the termination of an adult-interdependent relationship should ideally bring changes to your will
- The birth or adoption of children or grandchildren can lead you to make certain adjustments to your will
- Similarly, the death of a predefined beneficiary will lead to specific changes to your will
- Any changes to your financial condition can also result in you need to make certain adjustments
- You will be required name an alternate executor in the event of the demise of the original executor
Any changes you intend to make to your existing will has long-standing repercussions. At Forum Law our estate lawyers will remain objective in their assessment of your financial or legal position, and advise these changes accordingly.
The time after your death will be a difficult period for your family, and ensuing financial and legal complications are not going to help. To proactively safeguard their future you can rely on our Wills services.
Are Wills Permanent?
There are times when a financial and familial situation can lead to change requirements in your will. Our thorough knowledge of the wills and estates law ensures that we can assist you in any amendment you need to make to an existing will as your life situations change. Any changes you intend to make to your existing will has long-standing repercussions. Our legal experts will remain objective in assessing your financial or legal position and advise these changes accordingly. Examples of these instances include:
- A divorce or the termination of an adult-interdependent relationship
- The birth or adoption of children or grandchildren
- The death of a predefined beneficiary
- Any changes to your financial condition
- Having to name an alternate executor in the event of the demise of the original executor
Find the Best Lawyer for Wills and Estate Planning
If you’re interested in learning laws about wills and estate planning, get in touch with our wills lawyer today. The time after your death will be a difficult period for your family, and ensuing financial and legal complications can make the time more stressful and magnify grief. To proactively safeguard your family’s future, you can rely on our services, including making a will, personal directives, enduring powers of attorney, changes to existing wills, and Islamic wills. Contact us today.
Services we provide
Regardless of your will requirements, our team has the experience and know how to ensure your estate is sealed tight.
