About The Service
Few things are more personal than your will.
Dreyer and Associates Family Lawyers in Langley and Surrey understand that few things are more personal than your will. With years of experience helping individuals plan for their family’s future, our wills and estates team help clients feel confident and secure that their wishes will be followed. Your will can be customized to reflect your specific wishes and family needs.
In addition to a will, there are two other documents you should consider, a power of attorney and a representation agreement. These additional documents can help complete your estate plan.
Power of Attorney
While a will govern your affairs after your death, a power of attorney guides your financial and legal affairs while you are alive. A power of attorney gives your attorney (the person you give the power to, not your lawyer) the authority to take care of your financial and legal matters only. This could include paying bills, doing banking, or selling properties on your behalf. It does not allow him or her to make decisions about your personal or health care, which can be dealt with a representation agreement.
Powers of attorney are often used as a form of advance planning, to make sure that the attorney can legally take care of the adult’s financial and legal affairs if the adult becomes “mentally incapable” of making their own decisions. This kind of power of attorney is called an enduring power of attorney, which continues in effect even if you become mentally incapable. It is important to note that after you become mentally incapable, it is too late for you to appoint someone to act for you. An enduring power of attorney is a simple tool that ensure that the person of your choice is able to easily step into your shoes and manage your affairs when you become incapable of doing so, without having to go through a court process called a committeeship application.
Representation Agreement
A representation agreement, referred to by some as a living will, defines how you wish to be treated medically if you are catastrophically injured, or have a terminal illness that prevents you from expressing your opinion on medical treatments for yourself. This document can provide you with dignity at a time when you may not be able to express yourself.
There are often estate planning components to will preparation that can include tax implications. In collaboration with your accountant, contact Dreyer and Associates Family Lawyers and let us assist with your estate planning needs.