Do you need a Will?

We spend a great part of our lives providing for our family, taking care of our children, saving for vacations, and planning for retirement. However, people ignore the fact that we are vulnerable, and that a legal plan should be put in place in the event of death. It is not a subject that people want to confront.

Over the last 7 months during this global pandemic, people have found themselves scrambling to obtain a Will. Lawyers over the past year have executed Wills in parking lots, front porches, and even on the hoods of cars. For a period of time the Ontario government enacted emergency legislation with respect to completing a Will virtually.

If you don’t have a Will, the Ontario government has a plan in place that will outline the distribution of your estate, and you may not like this plan. The plan is outlined in the Succession Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.26. For example, if you have a common law partner and you are not legally married, then your partner will not inherit under this law. The law outlines your ‘next of kin” and it is strictly followed. It is important to consult with a lawyer to make sure that your intentions in the event of death, are translated into a legal Will.

This blog article by Jonathan Solomon is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For assistance in obtaining a Will, or updating your Will, please contact J. Solomon Law, at 613-440-7400 or info@jsolomonlaw.com.