Link to video of Sunday's CPAC show

If anyone would like to check out the CPAC television show on which I was a guest on Sunday, click here for the link. Select "Season 9, episode 22". I had fun doing that show though it's a bit weird being the person on remote location when the others are all in a room together.

The truth about publishing: it's full of hotties

Most of the time, in this blog I stick to the lawyer side of my job. But I'm an author too, as you know, so I absolutely have to share this story with you. Today my editor posted a link to this story in the Globe and Mail, with the headline "The truth about publishing: it's full of hotties". It talks about the number of smart, informed, beautiful, stylish women in the publishing industry. Even though they are talking about the publishers and editors, and not the authors (too bad for me!), I still think the story is fun to read. If you'd like to read it, click here.

What do lawyers charge to make Wills?

In their June 2010 edition, Canadian Lawyer magazine has presented the results of a survey of law firms across Canada to find out what lawyers are charging clients to prepare their documents. While the survey covers several kinds of fees from criminal defense work to intellectual property, I'm going to focus just on the fees for Wills and Powers of Attorney (in other words I'm picking and choosing from the data). The link to the digital edition of the magazine is here, but you will need an email address to access it so I'm not sure if everyone can actually see the article.

Ontario:
fees to do a simple will range from $278 to $510
fees to do a complex will range from $704 to $2,061
fees to do a power of attorney range from $108 to $219

Western Canada:
fees to do a simple will range from $242 to $508
fees to do a complex will range from $538 to $1,520
fees to do a power of attorney range from $124 to $251

Atlantic Canada and Quebec:
fees to do a simple will range from $215 to $642
fees to do a complex will range from $662 to $2,100
fees to do a power of attorney range from $137 to $338

It's also interesting to compare the average cost nationally by the size of the law firm:
simple will by a firm having 1-4 lawyers: average $294
simple will by a firm having 5-25 lawyers: average $413
simple will by a firm having 26+ lawyers: average $489

complex will by a firm having 1-4 lawyers: average $751
complex will by a firm having 5-25 lawyers: average $1,147
complex will by a firm having 26+ lawyers: average $1,520

I still sometimes hear people, who apparently have sticker shock when they are quoted a price by a lawyer, saying things like "I can get a Will from the lawyer down the street for $100". Seriously, the days of $100 Wills are over. You might as well do it yourself as pay the person who charges $100. The real value of a lawyer when preparing your Will is the advice that you get on trusts, taxes and executorship, and the peace of mind that your family is protected.

Minister of Justice appoints new federal ombudsman for victims of crime

Three days ago, our Minister of Justice appointed a new federal ombudsman for victims of crime. Victims can contact the ombudsman by a toll-free number to find out more about their rights as victims, or to complain about any federal law or federal agency that deals with victims of crime. To learn more, click here.

Can you believe that Sonny Bono didn't have a Will?

I often recommend to people who are searching for a way to open a conversation about wills, death, mental incapacity and other subjects that most normal people just don't want to talk about, that they simply look at the latest celebrity estate disaster. All of the issues that arise for these famous folks arise for the rest of us as well. Whether it's an illegitimate child, a lost Will, a bequest that makes people angry, these things happen when there is no Will or a poorly prepared Will.

In Sonny Bono's case, a "love child" came out of nowhere to make a claim against the estate and his widow had to deal with that devastating occurence right after losing her husband. This happens to other people too, who are not as famous.

Steven A. Morelli wrote an article called "The Lessons of Famously Bad Estate Planning" which appeared in InsuranceNewsNet Magazine. It's really entertaining, while being horrifying at the same time. To read the article, click here.

Most Albertans satisfied with their lawyers: Ipsos Reid poll

Recently the Law Society of Alberta commissioned Ipsos Reid to conduct a poll to find out how people felt about their recent interactions with the lawyers they'd hired. I was pretty pleased to see what they found out. Here are some of the results. To read the summary directly from the report, or to read the results of other questions that I haven't included in this post, click here.

Albertans' satisfaction with their lawyers:
Very satisfied 53%
Somewhat satisfied 25%
Somewhat dissatisfied 6%
Very dissatisfied 3%

I hope my clients were among the above 53% ! The poll also shows that in the last three years, 78% of Albertans consulted a lawyer about Wills, estates or adult guardianship matters.

Paro the robo-seal aims to comfort elderly, but is it ethical?

Interesting story in the Wall Street Journal today about a robot in the shape of a baby seal, named Paro. Nursing homes around the world are using it to comfort dementia patients. Click here to read the story, as well as the questions raised by some people about the use of Paro.

(photo from that story as well)

Watch for me in Canadian Retailer Magazine

Today I was interviewed by a reporter for Canadian Retailer Magazine about business succession planning for small to medium retail businesses. The article will appear on Monday, June 21, 2010.

Scammers target doughnut-hole seniors' rebate

This is an American story, but it could happen anywhere. The government is sending a one-time payment to seniors to help cover the cost of medication. Scammers are calling seniors and telling them they have to give personal information to get the money. Then of course they are using that information to defraud the seniors. Never give out personal information to anyone who calls you like that.

Read the story here.

Man sued for support by aging mother

A man in Kelowna, BC (Ken Anderson) and his siblings are being sued for financial support by their elderly mother. Anderson is fighting the case because he and siblings have had no relationship with their mother since they were quite young. Read the story here.

The story is from BC, but Ontario also has a law stating that kids must support parents "to the extent that they can". Alberta doesn't have a law that allows this. What do you think? Is this a good idea? Is it fair to both parents and their kids? Do you agree with me that this is a topic that's going to get more attention in the future?

Listen for me on CBC Radio Winnipeg later today

I'll be interviewed on CBC Radio Winnipeg at 5:15 Winnipeg time, talking about seniors protecting themselves from financial abuse. If you're considering opening a joint account with your adult children, listen in, and hopefully what you hear will talk you out of opening that account.

Fun stuff - dumb consumer products warning labels

It's too nice a day today to do anything serious, and I thought we could all do with a chuckle. The law is pretty stern most of the time, but it has its humourous side too. Click on this link to see dumb warning labels on actual products of all kinds. They are the result, of course, of consumers doing unfathomably idiotic things with products, then suing the manufacturers for not warning them. The upside is that they make fun reading for the rest of us. My favourite is the warning on the Power Puff Girls costume, "You cannot save the world!". Enjoy!

(Photo from that site as well).

12 dead, 25 hurt in murder rampage

12 dead, 25 hurt in murder rampage This story from England is unbelievable, and I found it even more shocking and sad when I read that it might have been a dispute over Mr. Bird's mom's Will that started all the trouble.

Watch for me on CityTV this Friday, June 4.

Folks in the Edmonton area, please keep an eye out for me this Friday, June 4, 2010, as I'll be interviewed on CityTV. They want me ready to go at 7:20 am so I guess they've never heard that I'm not a morning person! We'll be talking about family meetings - why have them, what to talk about, etc. I hope you can join us. Let me know what you think about the show.

How To Beat a Hexing Rap - funny legal story

Okay, this has nothing at all to do with estate planning but I saw this item in the Globe and Mail and thought it was just too good not to share. Makes me think how great we have things here in Canada with our legal system. I especially like the part about deciding if someone is a witch by looking at them to see if they behave like a witch!

"How to Beat a Hexing Rap
By some estimates, 40 per cent of court cases in the Central African Repulbic are witchcraft prosecutions writes Grame Wood in The Atlantic magazine. The accused are facing criminal punishment for hexing their enemies or assuming the shape of animals. Lawyer Bartolome Goroth told him the trials genreally ended with an admission of guilt in exchange for a modest sentence. 'I asked how one determined guilt in cases where the alleged witches denied the charges. "The judge will look at them and see if they act like witches" Goroth said, specificying that acting like a witch entailed 'behaving strangely' or 'nervously' in court. His principal advice to clients, he said, was to act normally and refrain from casting any spells in the courtroom".

Link to Globe and Mail article

The article I mentioned last week is in today's Globe and Mail, investor section, on page B9. There is also a more extensive article with excerpts from my latest book on their site. Click here to see it (good way to preview the book if you were thinking of buying it).

Join me in an online discussion at the Globe & Mail

On Wednesday, June 2 I'll be taking questions on estate planning on the Globe and Mail website, starting at 12:00 (eastern time). Come on by and join us! I'm open to questions on Wills, estate planning, Enduring Powers of Attorney, elder law... you name it.

Click here to join the discussion.

Watch for me in the Globe & Mail on May 31

Just a heads-up that my recent interview with the Globe & Mail newspaper will be run on Monday, May 31, 2010. Along with the interview, there is an excerpt from my book "Estate Planning Through Family Meetings". I had to reduce an entire chapter down to ten tips! Please keep an eye out for the article.

Watch for me on Global TV

On Thursday, May 13 I'll be on the 5:00 Early News with Lynda Steele on Global TV. Lynda has interviewed me before, and is one of my favourite reporters. She is going to give away three copies of my newest book. Hopefully you can tune in and see the interview.

What were they THINKING??

Unbelievable! Read the story here:

Women 'tried to get dead body on easyJet flight in Liverpool' - Times Online