Following a death, an executor’s responsibilities and list of tasks can be lengthy. While it may take a while to get everything in order, one important task to take care of early is dealing with the deceased’s mail. Taking care of this task early on will ensure that all bills or important correspondence sent to…

A testator (the person who creates the Will) has the right to show their Will to anyone they wish while they are alive but they have no obligation to do so. They may, however, want to provide a copy of the Will to the executor(s) of the Will or provide information to the executor(s) as…

An executor is a person named within a Last Will & Testament who will carry out directions and requests according to the provisions in the Will. If an individual dies without a Will, they are said to have died intestate. In this case, an administrator must be appointed by the court to administer the estate.…

Individuals who left the work force, or had low earnings because they were caring for a child under the age of seven may be able to qualify for benefits or increase their Canada Pension Plan Benefits. To qualify the individual must have either not worked or had low earnings while being the primary caregiver of…

As lawyers we try to find and minimize potential risks for our clients. A common risk relates to unanticipated impacts on estates where people die without a will. Situations involving blended families and second marriages are particularly ripe for disputes and unintended consequences. A decision from the Alberta Court of Appeal, titled Peters v. Peters…

With our rising education costs, Registered Education Savings Plans (“RESP’s”) are becoming a popular way to save for a child or grandchild’s education. What happens however when the RESP subscriber, being the person who set up the RESP, dies? Many think that RESP’s are treated the same as RRSP’s, but that is not true. They…

Elsewhere, this website has featured articles on Wills and Powers of Attorney. A Will is a written document which sets out the method of distribution of the assets of the deceased. A Power of Attorney is a written document wherein the individual, called the donor, appoints an attorney or attorneys to carry on the donor’s…