What are the benefits of seeking a lawyer’s assistance in preparation of a will?

The main advantage of using a lawyer is in getting professional advice on matters not strictly related to the drafting of the will itself. Many people make basic mistakes in how they hold title to their assets. These mistakes can be very costly to an estate, both financially and in terms of increased time and trouble in the administration. An estate lawyer can identify and correct these mistakes.

In addition to correcting mistakes relating to your current assets, seeing an estate lawyer will help you identify the pros and cons of RRSP and RESP investments from an estate planning perspective and the need for restructuring of businesses and corporations.

Estate planning - even simple estate planning - is not a matter of executing a will alone. Powers of Attorney, representation agreements and life insurance trusts are just some examples of additional documents required to complete the estate plan.

Lastly, in addition to the advice on related matters, a lawyer will also make sure the will itself is drafted free of common errors that may lead to the will being found invalid.

View more articles