WILLS & ESTATE PLANNING

Get peace of mind knowing that your loved ones are cared for when you cannot do so.  Leave a legacy by leaving your affairs in order instead of mayhem.  Although nobody likes thinking about their mortality, the realty is that none of us have nine lives.  We only have one life to live, so make sure you leave your family with clear instructions to avoid contention, delays and needless litigation expenses.  Furthermore, if you have minor children, you want to ensure they are left with the right family members or close family friends, to ensure they are properly cared for in your absence.

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What Happens if You Die Without a Will?

Dying without a Will is called dying intestate and has long reaching consequences on your surviving family and/or love ones. 

 

1. If you have no Will, the law decides how your estate is distributed among your loved ones.  If you have no children, your spouse inherits the entire estate.  Your spouse may inherit everything or the first $200,000 of your assets if you have children and what is left will be divided equally amongst your family.  If you have neither a spouse nor children, your estate is distributed to other relatives.  Can you imagine your assets going to a distant relative that you have not spoken to in 10+ years?
    

2. Your closest relative will be appointed your personal representative.  That person will have to step forward to administer your estate.  If they do not step forward, perhaps a Trustee Company may take on the role.
    

3. If you have a Common-law spouse, they have no automatic entitlement to your estate or even a portion of it.  A Common-law spouse would therefore have to go to court to try to get anything.
    

4. Your personal belongings will be sold off and not distributed as per your wishes.  That gold ring that was passed down from your mother and her predecessors, will be pawned off and sold to the highest bidder.
    

5. Potential tax savings will be lost forever.  The government taxes you throughout your life and your hard earned investments and assets will be taxed heavily.  The government gets you coming and going.
    

6. If you have a dependent child or other relatives they will not be properly provided for.  Unless the appropriate provisions are made in your Will, a dependent child with a disability and requiring long-term care will not be financially supported as you had hoped.
    

7. Wills and Estate Planning goes hand in hand with the ownership of property and we provide additional discounts to our existing clients who purchase or sell with Hope-Selkin Law and begin the estate planning process within 3 months of a real estate closing.  We urge our clients to be proactive and protect their loved ones so that they are properly looked after.
    

8. If you have children and there is no surviving parent, you will forgo the opportunity to specify who you want to act as his/her/their guardians.
    

9. You have absolutely no say in your funeral and burial arrangements.  If your court appointed executor does not recall or know your wishes, your arrangements will be made in accordance with their preferences.
    

10. Charities or non-profit organizations that are close to your heart will never receive your support to carry on the philanthropic work you so admire.
     

11. Last, but certainly not least, if you have no living relatives, the Ontario government gets your entire estate.

​These are just a few of the reasons why everyone needs a Will.  The fact of the matter is, without a Will, you are unable to appoint your beneficiaries and you are stuck depending on the law and government to decide the fate of your loved ones.  Getting a Will completed avoids a lot of the above noted problems and saves you and your loved ones tremendous expense, delay and heartache. 

 

We provide an initial consultation to ascertain your particular needs, review your Wills Questionnaire so we can begin drafting your Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney for Property, Power of Attorney for Personal Care and Health Directive.  Call Hope-Selkin Law, P.C. today for your Wills & Estates Package.  Get your Wills Questionnaire today to get the ball rolling.
 

All Wills Packages Include:

Last Will & Testament

Power of Attorney for Property

Power of Attorney for Personal Care

Health Care Directive

Affidavit of Executions

***Legal Drafting of Will by Ontario Lawyer***

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Basic Wills Package - Retainer for entire amount required before documents are drafted 

Basic Packages include 30 minute Telephone Consultation with email correspondence thereafter, Review of Wills Questionnaire, and Standard Wills and Estates documents provided electronically via email/telephone.  Detailed instructions will be provided regarding execution of documents to ensure the same are valid and legally binding via Videoconference signing.  If completing DIY execution of documents (i.e. Testator in Nursing Home, etc.), ensure that you have two (2) witnesses physically present (at the same time that are not executors, beneficiaries or related to beneficiaries) at the time of execution. If in-office Wills Execution is required, an additional $200.00 will be added to flat fee quote.

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Basic Single (Online) Wills Package     $    775.00 / person

Basic Spousal (Online) Wills Package  $    725.00 / person

Flat fee quote includes up to 3 hours of billable time and includes one (1) major amendment or two (2) minor amendments.  Typographical, spelling or minor grammatical or name changes do not count as amendments. Flat fee legal quotes are for straight forward Wills and Estate Planning.  If your matter is more complex please speak with a lawyer to obtain a custom quote.  If additional time is expended on your matter exceeding the above noted cap, additional fees may apply to compensate the firm for the addition time expended on your matter.  (Quotes do not include HST or disbursements)

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Premium Lifetime Packages - Retainer for entire amount required before documents are drafted

Premium Lifetime Packages include 1 hour Virtual Videoconference or Teleconference Consultation, Virtual or In-Person Execution of Documents with Lawyer plus Witness and Unlimited lifetime revisions to existing Will in the event that your circumstances change (i.e. baby, death of Executor, etc.).  Finalized and executed originals of Wills and Estate Planning documents may be stored in our vault free of charge.  Notarized copy of Wills to be provided to client(s) if client storing Will in our vault.
 

Premium Single Wills                               $ 1,700.00 / person (Savings of at least $850)
Premium Spousal Wills Package           $ 1,600.00 / person (Savings of at least $1500 for Spousal Wills)

Flat fee quote includes up to 4 hours of billable time and includes one (1) major amendment or two (2) minor amendments.  Typographical, spelling or minor grammatical or name changes do not count as amendments. Flat fee legal quotes are for straight forward Wills and Estate Planning.  If your matter is more complex please speak with a lawyer to obtain a custom quote.  If additional time is expended on your matter exceeding the above noted cap, additional fees may apply to compensate the firm for the addition time expended on your matter.  (Quotes do not include HST or disbursements)

 

*Quote is per person for both Single and Spousal Package.  Henson Trusts required for dependents with disabilities ADD $650.00 to above noted fees. 

*Premium Lifetime Package provides complimentary legal fee for all future amendments (2.5 hours of billable hours included per life time amendment revisions and includes online executions only). 
(Does not include HST or disbursements)

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