Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Canada

Re: Will Kits Credibility

These kits are a good starting point, but if you need any special provisions, such as providing for care of a disabled relative, planning for elderly needs, trusts, concerns about substance-abusing heirs, and other special needs, you really should have an experienced attorney assist you.

You should be careful to get a kit for the state in which you reside, becase estate law (governing wills and estates) varies from state to state.

You might use the kit to go through the process of gathering and putting together the information that any attorney will need to prepare the will documents that actually address your specific needs, and then bring the resulting document to your meetin with the attorney who can then create you will documents and be present to make sure that they are properly signed and witnessed and notarized.

A will is not the only document you need. Every person should also have a Durable Power of Attorney, an advance health care directive/living will, and a health care power of attorney.

If you are considering a codicil to an existing will, it is probably better to just have a new will prepared, unless it is a very simple change. Even then, you should have an attorney review it to be sure that you have not somehow made the original will invalid, interfered with your overall estate plan, or removed an essential provision that will stand in the way of an orderly administration of your estate.

Re: Will Kits Credibility

Will kits I think are only good for single people who have a minor amount of assets and no family. However a simple will and POA drafted by an attorney does not need to be expensive. My office does them for $125, that includes a will, POA and living will.

Brandon Barnett, Esq.

412-916-1677

www.youresquire.net