Getting your affairs in order and keeping them that way.
Wills, Estate Planning + Probate
Estate Planning
The hardest part of making end of life plans is thinking about it; we can help you understand what you need and how you’ll accomplish your estate planning goals. You will need to consider:
- Who will help make decisions for you if you have diminished capacity (Power of Attorney and Representation Agreement);
- What you expect to be included in your estate on your death, and what might pass to loved ones beforehand or outside your estate;
- Who will be in charge of carrying out your wishes (Executor);
- Who will be in charge of your property during and after probate (Trustee);
- What are you going to give to whom (Division of Assets); and
- What will be done with your remains.
These are the big questions, but there are plenty of smaller questions in the course of responsible estate planning. You’re never too young (or too old) to start estate planning, and we are here to guide you.
Wills, Estate Planning + Probate
Probate
Have you been named as an executor of a will? What if there’s no will?
If you are handling an estate, there are many duties and responsibilities to fulfil, and the process can be overwhelming. The lawyers at Alexander Stewart will walk you through each step of the process, from dealing with the funeral home to obtaining probate, through estate administration and final distribution of the estate property.
Wills, Estate Planning + Probate
Contested Wills + Estate Disputes
Sometimes a will leaves out an important beneficiary, or divides estate assets unfairly. Maybe there’s a question about whether the will-maker had the proper capacity to create the will, or whether they were unduly influenced. Whatever the problem, we are here to untangle it.
We assist with claims of undue influence, lack of capacity to create a will, invalidity, interpretation and rectification of wills, variation of wills and trusts, and contentious estate administrations.
We also advise clients about situations of elder abuse and misuse of Power of Attorney, and applications for adult guardianship and committeeship.
