Estate Planning Lawyers in Ottawa, Ontario
Practice Areas
Estate planning is essential for ensuring that your wishes are carried out and your loved ones are provided for in Ontario. Francis Lawyers offers personalized estate planning services designed to reflect your intentions and protect your assets.
Our experienced estate planning lawyers will work with you to develop customized plans that address your unique needs and objectives, including drafting wills and trusts, establishing powers of attorney, and planning for incapacity. We understand the importance of estate planning in Ontario and are committed to helping our clients achieve peace of mind knowing that their loved ones and assets are protected.
In the event of disputes or litigation, our skilled litigators are here to safeguard your interests and advocate on your behalf. Whether you're facing a contested will , trust disputes, or claims of undue influence, you can trust Francis Lawyers to protect your legacy and preserve your wishes according to Ontario law.
What We Have to Offer
Whether you are considering a Will or you have recently lost a loved one and are experiencing difficulties due to disputes surrounding their estate, our lawyers can help.
We can help you by drafting your:
Will
Power of Attorney for Property
Power of Attorney for Personal Care
Testamentary Trust
Inter Vivos Trust
We can also help you with:
Estate administration
Estate litigation
A guardianship application
Plan for the Future, Today
Resources
Your Will is the hub of your estate planning. It will set out the exact way your money and goods are distributed after your death. It is your way to make your intentions known and to protect your loved ones and charities are taken care of in the manner you choose and reduces the amount of tax due after death.
Validity
The “testator” is the person making the will. For your will and estate in Ottawa to be valid and have full effect, the testator must have full mental capacity, both when giving the instructions to the lawyer and at the time of execution. He or she must be able to understand that they are making a Will, how much property they have, and the claims that might be brought against the estate. All of this must happen without any duress or other influence. Duress or influence means when another person pressures the testator to agree to something against his or her will.
The Succession Law Reform Act specifically outlines how the Will is to be signed. The document must be signed by the testator in front of two witnesses. Those witnesses must not be beneficiaries to the estate. The only exceptions are if the entire Will is handwritten (holographic) by the testator and those Wills make by military personnel in very specific circumstances. Contact Francis Lawyers to talk to a lawyer about the validity of a handwritten Will.
Choose Francis Lawyers to prepare your Will for a seamless, expert-guided process that ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes, providing you with lasting peace of mind.