It's almost Wills Week 2011. Hopefully many of you who happen to be in the Edmonton area in the first week of October will come out to participate in free 2-hour sessions about estate planning. The sessions are all presented by experienced wills and estates lawyers. Wills week has been gathering momentum for a number of years, as it's a great way to get up-to-date, relevant, complete, reliable information about wills.
I don't know yet which session I'll be doing, but the schedule of times and venues has been released. If you want to see whether one of the sessions will be held near you, click here to see the Edmonton Community Foundation's newsletter. The schedule appears on page 2. Once I know where I'll be speaking, I'll let you know. If you can take in the session, please do, and please come over to say hello!
Showing posts with label Edmonton Community Foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edmonton Community Foundation. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday, October 4, 2010
Looking forward to Wills Week
Just a reminder that this is Wills Week in Edmonton. This involves about a dozen free public lectures on Wills and Estate Planning by some of Edmonton's most experienced Wills lawyers. The sessions start today all over the city and continue through to Thursday. The session where I'll be speaking is on Thursday, October 7 at the Edmonton Public Library at Whitemud Crossing, 4211 - 106 Street. The session starts at 6:30 and runs for two hours. This is my favourite Wills Week venue (I've spoken in several over the years) as we always get a full turnout of listeners and the room is really comfortable for everyone. If anyone is in the area on the 7th, come on by and join us.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
It's Wills Week 2010
From their newsletter: "This year there is a special session being held for those who would like information on how to ensure their will provides for family members who may require special care." That session, called the PLAN Edmonton session because it was suggested by the organization of that name, is taking place on Wednesday, October 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Prince of Wales Armories.
This is an excellent opportunity to get some local, expert information about estate planning. You'll get a chance to pick up written information and ask questions. I've been participating in this event for years and have seen it grow bigger every year as more and more people realize what a valuable resource it is.
This year I'll once again be at the Edmonton Public Library at Whitemud Crossing, 4211 - 106 Street. Look for the program room, which used to be a movie theatre and has really comfy seats, or so I'm told. I'll be there on Thursday, October 7 from 6:30 to 8:30. Come early, as this is a popular venue.
For a list of all the venues, addresses and times, click here to go to the Edmonton Community Foundation's website. You'll also find their latest newsletter, The LATE Edition, with tons of information about estate planning and financial planning.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wills Week 2010 coming soon
The Edmonton Community Foundation has set its schedule for Edmonton's Wills Week for October 1 - 7, 2010. There will be 12 sessions, both daytime and evening to choose from. Every session is free. These sessions are conducted by estate lawyers who volunteer their time to present information about the importance of having a valid, up-to-date Will. I've been involved in this for years - 8 or 9 years I think - and will be involved again this year. I'll let you know once it's been decided which session I'll be doing. I may even do two this year! Click here for information on Wills Week (2010 schedule wasn't up yet at the time I made this posting).
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Who do leave my estate to if I don't have kids?
From time to time I meet clients who don't have spouses or children and they want ideas about where to leave their estates once they pass away. The first thought most people have is to divide the estate among their siblings, and that is a viable idea.
A variation on that is to leave money in trust for family members such as nieces and nephews, with instructions that the trust be used to pay for their education.
Another popular idea is to leave some or all of your estate to charities. Some people have causes that are dear to their hearts because a charity helped them or family members in the past. I met one client who is leaving several million dollars to a group of charities that deal with different aspects of illiteracy, as well as public libraries, because he struggled with reading his whole life.
Many clients like to leave money to the college or university they graduated from. It is possible to use your Will to set up a scholarship at a particular faculty at a particular school to help future students who may not be well off financially.
You can benefit several charities and get a tax break for yourself now by giving money to a charitable foundation such as Scotiabank`s Aqueduct Foundation or the Edmonton Community Foundation. In this kind of arrangement, your monetary gift is invested and the interest on it is used each year to give charitable gifts to the charities of your choice. The principal is not used, except to generate more income. You can then use your Will to give the rest of your estate to the foundation and continue on your pattern of giving.
To get ideas about which charities are out there and what kinds of activities they are involved in, go to http://www.donorsguide.ca/ . For more in-depth information on charitable organizations, go to http://www.charitycan.ca/.
If you are interested in any organization in Canada and want to know whether it`s a registered charity or not, check out the Canada Revenue Agency website at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/charities/.
Sometimes people wonder whether the government will take their estates if they don`t have a Will and don`t have a spouse or children. The government does not become a beneficiary of your estate unless and until absolutely no relatives can be found. The Intestate Succession Act of Alberta sets out who gets your estate if you die without a Will. If you do not have a spouse or children, the Act says your estate will go to your parents, your siblings and eventually more distant relatives. The better idea is to make a Will that sets out your wishes.
You should ask your estate-planning lawyer for ideas and talk over the possibilities.
A variation on that is to leave money in trust for family members such as nieces and nephews, with instructions that the trust be used to pay for their education.
Another popular idea is to leave some or all of your estate to charities. Some people have causes that are dear to their hearts because a charity helped them or family members in the past. I met one client who is leaving several million dollars to a group of charities that deal with different aspects of illiteracy, as well as public libraries, because he struggled with reading his whole life.
Many clients like to leave money to the college or university they graduated from. It is possible to use your Will to set up a scholarship at a particular faculty at a particular school to help future students who may not be well off financially.
You can benefit several charities and get a tax break for yourself now by giving money to a charitable foundation such as Scotiabank`s Aqueduct Foundation or the Edmonton Community Foundation. In this kind of arrangement, your monetary gift is invested and the interest on it is used each year to give charitable gifts to the charities of your choice. The principal is not used, except to generate more income. You can then use your Will to give the rest of your estate to the foundation and continue on your pattern of giving.
To get ideas about which charities are out there and what kinds of activities they are involved in, go to http://www.donorsguide.ca/ . For more in-depth information on charitable organizations, go to http://www.charitycan.ca/.
If you are interested in any organization in Canada and want to know whether it`s a registered charity or not, check out the Canada Revenue Agency website at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/charities/.
Sometimes people wonder whether the government will take their estates if they don`t have a Will and don`t have a spouse or children. The government does not become a beneficiary of your estate unless and until absolutely no relatives can be found. The Intestate Succession Act of Alberta sets out who gets your estate if you die without a Will. If you do not have a spouse or children, the Act says your estate will go to your parents, your siblings and eventually more distant relatives. The better idea is to make a Will that sets out your wishes.
You should ask your estate-planning lawyer for ideas and talk over the possibilities.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wills Week and Global TV
Hi everyone,
Just in case you missed it, I was interviewed on Global TV Edmonton on why you need a will.
October 5 to 10th is Wills Week, brought to you by the Edmonton Community Foundation and I will be giving my annual seminar on Wills in Whitemud on October 8th ... for more information, visit their website.
Just in case you missed it, I was interviewed on Global TV Edmonton on why you need a will.
October 5 to 10th is Wills Week, brought to you by the Edmonton Community Foundation and I will be giving my annual seminar on Wills in Whitemud on October 8th ... for more information, visit their website.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wills Week 2009 is coming up!
This year, as in almost every year since 2002, I will be giving a public seminar on Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives.
Date: Thursday, October 8
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Whitemud Library, Whitemud Crossing, Edmonton
Cost: Free!
It's part of a week-long event called Wills Week, which is sponsored by the Edmonton Community Foundation. Other Wills lawyers will be giving public seminars that week as well, in other venues around Edmonton and area. You will see advertisements soon in the local newspapers. The idea is to provide the public with accurate, up-to-date informaton about estae planning.
If you get a chance to come hear me, or any of the other excellent speakers during Wills Week, please come on out. You'll hear tons of information, take home hand-outs and other useful materials and get a chance to ask questions one-on-one. I've given this seminar at the Whitemud Library twice before and both times the room was completely full, so please arrive nice and early to ensure that you'll get a seat.
I'll have my assistant with me, so you'll have a chance to buy my book from her at a discounted price. I'll be making a donation to the Edmonton Community Foundation for each book sold. You'll also be able to get a free coupon that will give you 15% off anything you buy from Self-Counsel Press's website.
Date: Thursday, October 8
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Whitemud Library, Whitemud Crossing, Edmonton
Cost: Free!
It's part of a week-long event called Wills Week, which is sponsored by the Edmonton Community Foundation. Other Wills lawyers will be giving public seminars that week as well, in other venues around Edmonton and area. You will see advertisements soon in the local newspapers. The idea is to provide the public with accurate, up-to-date informaton about estae planning.
If you get a chance to come hear me, or any of the other excellent speakers during Wills Week, please come on out. You'll hear tons of information, take home hand-outs and other useful materials and get a chance to ask questions one-on-one. I've given this seminar at the Whitemud Library twice before and both times the room was completely full, so please arrive nice and early to ensure that you'll get a seat.
I'll have my assistant with me, so you'll have a chance to buy my book from her at a discounted price. I'll be making a donation to the Edmonton Community Foundation for each book sold. You'll also be able to get a free coupon that will give you 15% off anything you buy from Self-Counsel Press's website.
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