This blog post was written by: Mario Gravel, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Ottawa Allow me to share a story of a client interaction with you. Dear client, do you know how important it is to have a proper legal Will? Yes. Check. You also know about the peace of mind…
The holiday season is often filled with visiting family, friends and relaxation. It can be that rare moment in the year where our fast-paced lives are put on hold, allowing for an opportunity to regroup and tackle important tasks we’ve been postponing throughout the year. Much like you would schedule…
There have been a few news articles published in the past year highlighting a growing problem in Ontario – unclaimed bodies. According to a recent Toronto Star article, there were 1,183 unclaimed bodies in Ontario this year. A CBC article reporting on the same issue found that there has been…
Recently, I returned for my fourth annual presentation to a group of older gentlemen about planning for the last decade of life. With more than fifty in the audience each year, the participants are a good cross-section of men in their 80s. They are a lively, well-informed group of retired…
As planners working with elderly clients and their families, we encourage people to plan their lives until the end of life and document their wishes for the care of their body after death. People often express their wish to return to a rural community for burial. However, since the COVID…
My dog and I have a habit of visiting our neighbours at least once a week. After Final Jeopardy, maybe on a Tuesday or Wednesday, I ask George if she wants to go visiting, and my little cockapoo loses her little dog mind, races to the door, and charges down…
Autumn is my favourite time of year. It’s often frantically busy with work, but when I have a chance to lift my head up from year-end responsibilities, I savour the reminders of abundance, the wealth of the harvest in this corner of the world, and the crisp cool air is…
I am an avid reader and always learn something new, even when reading for pleasure. The novel I recently finished, Cold, Cold Bones, by Kathy Reichs was no exception. This is the paragraph that piqued my interest: “A woman in Mount Holly was struck by a falling object while wrapping…
A child’s relationship with their parents is complicated. If a child is in extended society care, previously known as being a Crown ward, that’s probably an understatement. But what happens in the unfortunate situation that a child under society care passes away? Nobody likes to contemplate the death of a…
This Blog was written by Lara Besharat Throughout the last year and a half, the pandemic, and the precarious nature of our collective health, has rested firmly at the forefront of everyone’s minds. This has led to a significant increase in estate planning. However, for many, there is still one…