Our team is focused on ensuring that our clients’ estate plan is tax efficient and can save their loved ones a significant amount of money in taxes.
We can help create a tax-efficient plan which protects and distributes our clients’ assets according to their wishes as well as simplify the process and generally make the administration of their estate easy and inexpensive.
We can help prepare Wills, Enduring Power of Attorney and Personal Directives, set up testamentary trusts, review existing wills, update current wills with a codicil or answer any questions about estate planning.
WILLS
Creating a valid and comprehensive will, establishing trusts, and communicating clearly with beneficiaries can help prevent disputes and ensure assets are distributed according to our clients’ wishes.
ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEY
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document which authorizes a person (an attorney) to make financial and legal decisions on behalf of another. While it is optional, it could be required when a person becomes incompetent to make reasonable decisions and manage their affairs. If not in place, their family or Estate will have to bring a court application to name a Power of Attorney, or the Public Trustee of Alberta will take over and administer their affairs.
PERSONAL DIRECTIVE
A Personal Directive authorizes another person (an agent) to make health decisions on behalf of another in the event they are unable to do so. While this document is also optional, it covers all health decisions such as who their doctor would be, the kind of medical treatment they would receive, where they would live, activities they would want to engage in and specifics such as whether they want to be on life support if in a permanent vegetative state, or whether they wish to be given drugs to keep them comfortable as possible etc.
