MrWills.com Blog

Who Inherits Your Money?

Okay, you’re not King Tut. You’re not going to take it with you. You’ll need a will. 

Do you know what happens to your money when you die?

If you don’t have a will, here are three key things to know:

• your spouse or children do not automatically get all your money
• your minor children will not be protected
• your family will need costly court  { continue reading… }

Estate Lawyers Are Not All Equal Part 2 of 2

In part 1, I gave you ways to find the right estate/probate lawyer. Now what do you do with your list?

 Make sure you do your homework. Compare the list of possible candidates. The names of two or three lawyers may surface who work in your neighborhood.  Now you’re ready to start with the next step.   

Invest some time in interviewing  { continue reading… }

Estate Lawyers Are Not All Equal Part 1 of 2

Good probate lawyers can help executors make better decisions. Are you handling an estate as executor? You cannot afford to have an inexperienced probate lawyer.

Finding the Right Estate/Probate Lawyer
 
Here are seven tips to help you. Begin by preparing a list of possible candidates from these sources.

1. Personal referrals.  Your friend or neighbour may have had a positive experience with a  { continue reading… }

Need a Certified Specialist in Estates Law?

Certified Specialist Logo

You know what a medical specialist does, but what about a legal specialist?

 In Ontario, the body that licenses lawyers is called the Law Society of Upper Canada. It has a certified specialist program for specific areas of law, including estates and trusts.

 The program recognizes lawyers who have met the established standards of experience and knowledge requirements. These  { continue reading… }

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Good, Bad, and Ugly Estate Planning

What’s the difference between a good, bad, or ugly estate plan?

Your answer may differ if you are the person creating the disastrous estate plan or a victim of poor planning.

If you are a victim of bad estate planning you have a different perspective. You could be forced to fix estate planning mistakes.

Ugly planning  { continue reading… }

How Do Estate Lawyers Charge?

How Do Estate Lawyers Charge?

How you will be charged can be based on these three factors:

1. Experience – expect specialists to charge more. They may identify issues quickly and in the long run, effectively save you time and money.

2. Complexity – more time is needed if you own a business, need detailed tax advice, have a child to  { continue reading… }

Hold on, I’m Coming

Hold on, I'm Coming

“Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.” – George Bernard Shaw

The other day I was having a drink with my tennis doubles partners, Sam & Dave. We had finished a hard-fought match. Sam started teasing me about my new estate planning website.

“Ed,  { continue reading… }

New Power of Attorney Guidelines are Designed to Prevent Fraud

New Power of Attorney Guidelines are Designed to Prevent Fraud

When was the last time you looked at your power of attorney documents?  Can you find the original signed documents?  These legal documents give the person you designate as your attorney the power to handle your property.

But beware of these new rules if you own real estate in Ontario!

It’s important  { continue reading… }

Estate Potholes on the Web

Caution! Estate Potholes on the Web

If you cruise the Web looking for legal information about wills or estates, beware!

Information you find about estate planning or about an estate executor’s duties may not apply to you.

There are different estate laws in each jurisdiction. When it comes to wills and estates, a lot depends on what side of the Canadian-American border  { continue reading… }