A little thank-you present

This coupon will get you anything from my publisher's website (not just my books but all authors) for 20% off. Just enter the coupon code that you see at the bottom right hand side of the coupon. Use it as many times as you like, and feel free to share it.

Current top ten posts all in one handy package

The following are currently the top ten most popular posts on my blog. I keep an eye on this because as you may know, I'm preparing an Alberta Probate Kit for Self-Counsel Press. I believe that the more I know about what questions people are asking, the better the Kit will be. It'll be out in early 2011, so stay tuned for that.

I've put in links to each of the top ten articles so you can just click and read:

1. Can an executor distribute estate assets before getting the Tax Clearance Certificate?

2. Should you downsize for retirement?

3. Should an executor get a tax clearance certificate?

4. Joint tenancy vs. tenants in common

5. What is the executor's year?

6. Where are the executor police when you need them?

7. Are co-executors liable for each other's actions?

8. If you're appointed as an executor, should you accept?

9. What are an executor's duties?

10. How do I get a tax clearance certificate?

Coming soon - Alberta Probate and Administration Kit

I hear hundreds of questions about probating Wills and looking after estates. I hear them at seminars, at work and on my blog. I'm always happy to share whatever I know!

All of you with questions will be pleased to know that I am in the middle of preparing a comprehensive, easy-to-understand Alberta Probate and Administration Kit that will be published by Self-Counsel Press in early 2011. That should give folks access to plenty of answers all in one place. And if you still have questions while using your kit, you know you can find me right here to talk about it.

If anyone is in the middle of administering anestate and is completely overwhelmed by it to the point where you simply want someone to take over for you, please contact me (I won't post your information publicly). If the estate is too much for you to handle, I can arrange for you to meet one of the trust officers I work with to take it off your hands. And not just here in my home city - I can arrange this for you right across Canada.

Self-Counsel Press already has probate kits for BC and Ontario. Below are links where you can purchase the kits, or simply learn more about them.
BC Probate and Administration Kit
Ontario Probate Kit

Any specific suggestions from a consumer point of view on what you'd like to see in the Alberta kit?

Estate Planning Through Family Meetings

My book, "Estate Planning Through Family Meetings" will be on store shelves in May, 2010 but you can pre-order it on Amazon. In this book I go into detail about two kinds of meetings. One type of meeting is just with your ageing parents. The other is a meeting of the entire family. I specifically designed this book and its worksheets for families who are not normally in the habit of sitting down and holding formal meetings. The end result of your meeting will be a fully functional, efficient estate plan.

To pre-order, or to see more about this book, click here:

Sorry I haven't blogged lately

I haven't blogged for ages - sorry about that! Work has been extremely busy, and I'm putting the final touches on my third book so I can send it in to the publisher. I always have a hard time saying goodbye to the books before I let them go. I really enjoyed writing this one - it's about holding family meetings about estate planning - and I look forward to sharing it with you in early summer when Self-Counsel Press publishes it.