Legal Will recommendation

[Sportyluis]

Anyone have a recommendation for a lawyer in Toronto that does legal wills at a reasonable cost? I'm in my mid 30's, single and healthy so it shouldn't be a complicated matter but a couple of people have recently told me to think about getting a will since that way I can dictate what happens vs the province if anything does happen.

A part of me wants to use those box templates they sell online but I don't know how legitimate they'd be?

[Fore Warned]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

We used this guy. He specializes in real estate, business law and estate planning. Easy to work with, good at explaining things and tailoring the will to meet our needs. He is experienced and helped us with subtleties that might otherwise have caused concern down the road.

Don't recall off hand the exact amount we paid, but it was less than I had anticipated. If interested I can look it up.

http://www.reinerlaw.ca/areas-of-practice

If he is in your part of town, I would definitely recommend him.

[Sportyluis]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

We used this guy. He specializes in real estate, business law and estate planning. Easy to work with, good at explaining things and tailoring the will to meet our needs. He is experienced and helped us with subtleties that might otherwise have caused concern down the road.

Don't recall off hand the exact amount we paid, but it was less than I had anticipated. If interested I can look it up.

http://www.reinerlaw.ca/areas-of-practice

If he is in your part of town, I would definitely recommend him.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll reach out to them along with another firm I got via pm.

[ace in the hazard]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

Unless you are dividing your assets in a complicated manner, you can simply use a holograph will. They are completely legal in Canada and the cost is great...free. Until I was married, I simply wrote on a piece of paper:

"All of my assets will go to my brother: xxx xxxx" and signed and dated it.

You don't even need a witness but it's worth noting that it should be in your own handwriting...you can't type it out and sign it.

When you get married, it's a little more complicated in the case that you die together in a car accident etc.

[WhiteWalker]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

When you get married, it's a little more complicated in the case that you die together in a car accident etc.

And that's why you need snow tires.

[mpare]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

I'd caution against this approach. There are complexities that can arise that most people won't anticipate, which the home drawn will won't cover. For instance, what if you and your brother dies at the same time? What if your brother pre-deceases you? Who's the executor, which you'll need to deal with certain institutions? I could go on for a while, but I've made my point.

Unless you are dividing your assets in a complicated manner, you can simply use a holograph will. They are completely legal in Canada and the cost is great...free. Until I was married, I simply wrote on a piece of paper:

"All of my assets will go to my brother: xxx xxxx" and signed and dated it.

You don't even need a witness but it's worth noting that it should be in your own handwriting...you can't type it out and sign it.

When you get married, it's a little more complicated in the case that you die together in a car accident etc.

[Petervdg]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

Single, no kids. If you die do you really care what happens to your stuff?
I waited until i was married and we had our first kid.
Had the lawyer do the will when we bought our house and he was doing the legal stuff for the house.

[kookie]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

Unless you are dividing your assets in a complicated manner, you can simply use a holograph will. They are completely legal in Canada and the cost is great...free. Until I was married, I simply wrote on a piece of paper:

"All of my assets will go to my brother: xxx xxxx" and signed and dated it.

You don't even need a witness but it's worth noting that it should be in your own handwriting...you can't type it out and sign it.

When you get married, it's a little more complicated in the case that you die together in a car accident etc.

This is what I did (not the married part). I procrastinate a lot....

[Onedolg]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

if you have a library card (york region) there are links for lawdepot.ca and the costs are FREE

https://www.rbdigital.com/yorksimcoeconsortiumon/service/lawdepot

this is the link. i have no affiliation with this. delete if necessary. just trying to save you guys some money

[mcgsxr]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

Did first will when first married.

Have reviewed it once 14 years later.

Will review it again in the next 10 or so.

[psfl]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

Please do not forget a Power of Attorney it was my best friend when my Mother died.

The post office even wanted to see it when I changed her addressed.

[gimmeabogey]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

I heard this guy on a radio show. Wills is all he does apparently. He sounded like he knows what he is doing.

http://www.leskotzer.com/

He did mention he charges $900 on the show, what that includes I don't know. I would assume that's per person if you are a couple it might be $1800?

[mpare]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

This is critically important. It's prudent to ensure that there is a power of attorney over your property as well as a power of attorney that covers one's personal care.

https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/family/pgt/poa.pdf

Please do not forget a Power of Attorney it was my best friend when my Mother died.

The post office even wanted to see it when I changed her addressed.

[68shark]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

My ex wife passed away without a valid will, a couple of years ago. She didn't do one after the divorce, whereas I did. A year and a half and a lot of money later, we were finally able to settle the estate and provide the residual funds to our three kids. I acted as Executor and it felt like a part time/full time job dealing with a mess.

One may think your life is simple, but it isn't. Have a home, pension, RSP's? What if you have a stroke or car accident and are incapable of managing your affairs? Who should make the decisions as to your health or assets?

I know Mpare is a retired lawyer. Follow his advice. I'm not a lawyer, but have seen the downside of not having a will. Spend the $300 or whatever it costs and draw up a proper will which will include contingencies discussed earlier in this thread. Power of attorney for property/health are also strongly advised. You aren't too young to contract a serious ailment or have an accident of some sort.

And make sure you update all of these documents regularly as your life evolves, likely complicated by spouse (married/common law etc.) and possibly children.

This is important to get it right. If you want to save money, buy used clubs instead of new.

[Mersey]

Re: Legal Will recommendation

Totally agree. My wife and I are in the middle of getting ours done. My wife said we wanted a simple and basic will but in our case, that wasn't the case.
We're just waiting to sign the papers.
I feel it's the best money spent for peace of mind.

My ex wife passed away without a valid will, a couple of years ago. She didn't do one after the divorce, whereas I did. A year and a half and a lot of money later, we were finally able to settle the estate and provide the residual funds to our three kids. I acted as Executor and it felt like a part time/full time job dealing with a mess.

One may think your life is simple, but it isn't. Have a home, pension, RSP's? What if you have a stroke or car accident and are incapable of managing your affairs? Who should make the decisions as to your health or assets?

I know Mpare is a retired lawyer. Follow his advice. I'm not a lawyer, but have seen the downside of not having a will. Spend the $300 or whatever it costs and draw up a proper will which will include contingencies discussed earlier in this thread. Power of attorney for property/health are also strongly advised. You aren't too young to contract a serious ailment or have an accident of some sort.

And make sure you update all of these documents regularly as your life evolves, likely complicated by spouse (married/common law etc.) and possibly children.

This is important to get it right. If you want to save money, buy used clubs instead of new.