Wills & Power Of Attorney

It is extremely important that everyone has a valid will and creating a legally binding will and powers of attorney at our office can be a cost-efficient option. Without a valid will, assets are passed to beneficiaries according to statutory guidelines, and succession laws, which may or may not reflect your wishes. Also, without a will, the court would need to approve who acts as your executor, and who looks after your minor children, if any. These issues can be easily addressed by creating a will.

Woitizik Polsinelli (“WP Law”) Lawyers & Mediators LLP’s commitment to individualized, professional service assures our clients that their interests are protected, and as a result, generations of clients have come to us to serve their estate needs.

Experienced Wills, Power of Attorney and Estates Lawyers at Your Service

At WP Law we work with a team of wills and estate lawyers in the Durham region so clients can rely on us for comprehensive counselling and mediation for the following services:

Estate Settlement Without a Will (Intestate Succession): When no will is present at the time of a person’s death, the property is distributed in accordance with Ontario’s Succession Law Reform Act. The cornerstones of this are as follows:

• A spouse is entitled to “preferential share,” and any children have an interest in the balance. The spouse does not receive the full amount of estate rather the preferential share being $200,00 for the estates of persons who die before March 1, 2021 and $350,00 for the estates of persons who die on or after March 1, 2021. O. Reg. 122/21, S.1. and the remainder divided dependent on the specific facts of the estate matter (i.e. between children and spouses).
• Surviving spouse and no children: Your spouse receives the entire estate.
• No spouse or children: Estate goes to your next of kin, determined in a sequence by the Succession Law Reform Act.
• Child under 18 years of age: Their share will be administered by the Ontario Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. They are given their share when they turn 18 year of age. A parent or guardian is not automatically the guardian of property for a minor child.

Estate Settlement with a Will (Testate Succession): Our wills and estate lawyers can help you both navigate planning and creating a will and work with you to ensure that a will’s terms are carried out to avoid the will being contested. When a will exists, it can and should stipulate the following:

• Who will act as trustee for minor beneficiaries?
• Whether monies can be paid either on account of income, principal or both, to minor beneficiaries prior to their age of majority.
• Whether monies can be paid to the parent or guardian of a minor beneficiary for the benefit of the minor beneficiary.
• At what age, a minor beneficiary will be entitled to his or her share of your estate, either in installments or at one time?
• Specify who will receive your personal and household effects.

Why Choose WP Law for Your Wills, Power of Attorney and Estates Needs?

Our merger with Devry Smith Frank (“DSF”) LLP has enabled us to provide our clients with a full range of expert legal services. Our lawyers develop detailed knowledge and appreciation of their clients’ personal and business interests. As a result, our lawyers are in a unique position to anticipate the needs of our clients and to work with them to craft wills and estate plans that properly satisfy those needs. Additionally, where the planning or administration of an estate will benefit from knowledge and experience in other areas of the law, our lawyers have the support of DSF’s legal wills and estates team as well as access to accountants and other professionals if necessary.

Locations

Our merger with Devry Smith Frank LLP (“DSF”) has made it easier to expand our services to Toronto and Barrie respectively. We also serve clients in Stouffville, Bowmanville, Haliburton and Innisfil.

Please download our Wills & Power of Attorney and Estates
brochure for more information below:

 

For a couple, we charge $975 to create wills and powers of attorney. For individuals, the fees are $750.00 for both your will and power of attorney. We also handle a variety of estate matters and estate administration services. The fees for estate matters will vary depending on the specific circumstances, and the services provided.

We invite you to download and review our questionnaire prior to your first appointment. We would be pleased to discuss the questionnaire with you personally at your convenience.

Download questionnaire here >>

Please contact us at your convenience to arrange an appointment to discuss your estate plan.