Packing for School? Don’t Forget Your Powers of Attorney
As university and college students pack their boxes and cars to head off to a new and exciting year, they are likely thinking about their class schedule, frosh week, and what their plans are for Thanksgiving break. One thing they (and, perhaps, their parents) are most likely NOT thinking about is estate planning. Most university […]
Caring for Dependent Children: Protecting Their Rights and Yours
Caring for a dependent child is a full-time job. There are not enough government resources, and those that exist are often deficient. It must feel, more often than not, as though the obstacles are insurmountable, the forms and red tape endless. In order to make it through the days and months, we come up with […]
Are Your Affairs in Order? A Few Resolutions to Help You Out…
As we ring in a new year, many of us make a number of resolutions: do more exercise, lose weight, less screen time and more books, etc. Another goal to consider – get your legal affairs in order. We will go into more detail in future blog posts, but here are some goals to add […]
Why piece meal planning is dangerous!
I have recently been asked to prepare wills for an older couple who have several properties, various investments and two adult children. The real properties include both the matrimonial home, cottages and investment properties. I always ask the client how title is held and then I ask them to provide me with a copy of […]
How will the “right to die” impact the Power of Attorney?
The recent Supreme Court of Canada decision on the ‘right to die’ issue, known as “Carter v. Canada”, found the provisions of the Criminal code dealing with assisted suicide to be invalid, as being contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights. Although the Court struck out that Criminal code section, the Court did not impose […]
Preparing a Power of Attorney for Personal Care
In preparing a power of attorney for personal care, we will discuss with our clients the preparation of specific instructions to be attached to the power of attorney, detailing the nature of the care the donor wishes under certain circumstances. This document is often loosely referred to as a “living will.” There is standard wording, […]
Supreme Court of Canada Decision on Accessing Assistance
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous landmark decision has declared the provisions in the criminal code, which have prevented Canadians from accessing assistance in dying, to be invalid as they unjustifiably infringe section 7 Charter rights. The decision has been suspended for 12 months to allow the federal and perhaps provincial governments time to provide […]
Health Care Decision Making: Powers of Attorney for Personal Care
It has been 20 odd years since the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the ban against assisted suicide in the Sue Rodriguez case. In October the issue was before the Supreme Court again and on February 6 of this year, they unanimously decided to lift the ban against competent adults with irreversible medical conditions having […]
