Wills Week
Willpower Wills Week is a series of free presentations that help Edmonton and area residents learn the value of creating and maintaining an up-to-date will.
Every October, we partner with a dedicated team of volunteer estate lawyers to answer your questions about will and estate planning. Wills Week sessions are free of charge to the public and offer information about:
- Creating and/or updating a will,
- What a will can and cannot do,
- How a will can help save taxes for both you and your estate, and
- Why it is so important to have a will prepared with the help and expertise of a lawyer, accountant, and financial and estate planner.
Having a valid, up-to-date will ensures you determine who:
- Gets what from your hard-earned assets,
- Will administer your estate, and
- Will be guardians of your dependent children.
After family and loved ones are taken care of, many people choose to create a lasting legacy in their community. A will intention is a great way to do this.
Research shows that 98% of Canadians make donations in their life. Planning for a legacy gift in your will ensures that your dreams and aspirations for the community continue beyond your lifetime. Working with ECF can help individuals and families build funds that reflect their interests.
Wills Week 2022
ECF was pleased to present this year’s Wills Week from October 3 – 7. Recordings of each session are available in the dropdown menu below.
Other helpful links:
Thanks to our Volunteer Lawyers for making Wills Week possible!
Presented by: Anna-May Choles, Rackel Belzil LLP
This session provides a general overview of things to keep in mind when preparing your estate plan and addresses common questions for wills and other documents that affect your estate.
Presented by: Michelle Coleman, MNP
Planning to reduce or defer taxes is an essential part of estate planning and administration. This session will address many commonly asked questions and will present tax planning options for you to discuss with your family and advisors.
Presented by Allison Barkwell, Barkwell Brown and Michael Simons, McCuaig Desrochers LLP
Our panel discusses their professional experiences of the unintended consequences when a person does not have a Will, Enduring Power of Attorney and/or a Personal Directive and explain how failing to plan results in a default estate plan which you might not be thrilled about! They also discuss how the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act applies to incapacitated individuals without Enduring Powers of Attorney or Personal Directives.
Presented by: Victoria Jones, de Villars Jones
Did you know that getting a grant of probate has changed? In this session, explore the new forms and learn about what’s new in applying for a grant of probate. Plus, get a sneak peek into the Surrogate Digital System that is bringing the probate process into the 21st century!
Presented by Jacklynn Pivovar, Miller Thomson
Learn about the potential problems lawyers often see in estate disputes and how to avoid them before they happen. This session includes information about the formal requirements for a valid will, the use of will kits, family support claims, property owned jointly and how things like capacity and undue influence may affect the intention of a person making a will.
To learn more about Wills Week and how to leave a lasting legacy, contact our Donor Services Team by phone at 780-426-0015 or via email at tgleason@ecfoundation.org.
PLEASE NOTE:
Sessions are subject to change.
The information contained in these sessions is based on Alberta law and is for general information only and to encourage you to ACT — to get professional assistance to get a good and valid will, personal directive and enduring power of attorney in place to protect your family, your assets and your business.
The information in these sessions is NOT legal or tax advice and does not replace legal or tax advice. Every person has a unique situation. For legal advice about your situation and/or to prepare these important documents make sure to visit a wills & estates lawyer.