Wills, Trusts, and Estate Services
Lawyers Wills, Trusts, and Estate Services
AGB Lawyers Wills, Trusts, and Estate Services
While it may be uncomfortable to contemplate, planning for death and the disposition of one’s assets and belongings through the establishment of a will or other testamentary documents through an estate plan is essential. By formalizing a will and estate plan in advance, individuals can mitigate potential conflicts between loved ones, delays, over taxation and legal fee costs.
Established in 1996 in Ottawa, Ontario, AGB Lawyers specializes in guiding clients through the creation and implementation of wills and estate plans. Our firm is dedicated to handling these sensitive matters with integrity and empathy, ensuring that your assets and valued possessions are protected and distributed according to the instructions noted in your will and estate plan, during your lifetime, upon death, and afterward.
Estate Plans
An estate plan is a set of legal documents – typically including a will, living trust, financial power of attorney, medical power of attorney, and beneficiary designations – that directs how your assets, health care, and family matters are handled if/when you become incapacitated or die.
What an Estate Plan Typically Includes:
● Will: States who inherits your property, names an executor, and can appoint guardians for minor children.
● Living Trust: Allows assets to pass outside probate and provides management if you become incapacitated.
● Financial Power of Attorney: Authorizes someone to manage your finances if you cannot.
● Medical Power of Attorney & Advance Directive: Names a health care agent and outlines treatment preferences.
● Beneficiary Designations: Control who receives retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable‑on‑death accounts. These often override a will.
A complete estate plan ensures your financial, medical, and family decisions are honored according to your wishes.
Last Will and Testament
A will specifies how your assets will be distributed after your death. It allows you to name executors, guardians for minor children, and heirs, including the power to carry out the distribution and transfer of your assets and property to your beneficiaries, the treatment your final remains may receive, as well as guardianship roles and care of any minor children in the event of your passing.
It is important to revisit your will and make adjustments when you experience changes in your life such as marriage, divorce, a new living arrangement/co-habitation, the sale of a significant asset, the birth of a child, or to change pre-existing wishes.
Living Wills
A living will is a document that articulates an individual’s medical directives in situations where they no longer have the capacity to communicate their preferences themselves. A living will Includes preferences for medical treatment and care in scenarios such as terminal illness, severe injury, or permanent unconsciousness, addressing decisions regarding life support, treatment options, and desired levels of care.
Inter Vivos Trusts
An Inter Vivos Trust, is a legal arrangement established while the grantor is alive, allowing them to transfer ownership of assets to a trust managed by a trustee for the benefit of designated beneficiaries while avoiding probate.
The term “inter vivos” is Latin for “between the living,” highlighting that the trust is active during the grantor’s lifetime, unlike a testamentary trust, which only takes effect after death. This type of trust enables the grantor to retain control and access to assets while planning for their eventual distribution.
Learn More About AGB’s Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning Services
If you are seeking compassionate and personalized legal guidance in the area of wills, trusts, or estate planning, AGB Lawyers is here to guide you with expert legal assistance and advice. Contact our team of experienced professionals to schedule your complimentary consultation today, and learn what is involved in personalized estate planning for you and your family and how to get the full range of protection you and your family deserve.