PERSONAL PLANNING Thora Rogers
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A WILL
In Memory of My Sister Cathy Grant
W
hen a person dies without a Will, things can quickly become complicated and frustrating for loved ones left behind, especially when they are still grieving. The sorting-out process, even for small estates, can take several years. With a Will, some family members may become greedy and start family fights. Without a Will, you can count on the situation being much worse! I used to dread it when my parents talked about their Wills because it meant they were getting
Cathy was a stickler for having everything organized and in its place. closer to the final chapter of their lives. We all make excuses and procrastinate but, I assure you, it is something we must all face sooner than later. My sister Cathy Grant was 1 of 4 siblings I discovered through a search for my biological family 8 years ago. Cathy was born with Cerebral Palsy and, sadly, lost her courageous battle with pneumonia in February 2019. Cathy was a stickler for having everything organized and in its place. She retained records of everything she ever did and every dollar she spent.
Her files were meticulous, a direct result of her personal need for “order” . . . yet Cathy had no Will. Like many other people, Cathy felt having a Will meant she was going to die. She preferred to “live her life” than waste time on anything that would take her away from that. One thing she did after we met was make me sole beneficiary of a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) where the majority of her money was on deposit. There I was, the new “sib” on the block, having to make a decision about Cathy’s money after she passed, with no Will to direct me. After agonizing over the decision I had to make, I contacted our other sisters and told them what I felt Cathy would have wanted me to do and they all agreed. A couple of months later, a family friend shredding the contents of some of Cathy’s files discovered a note she had written to her best friend Ed. The note basically confirmed that my decision for her money was in keeping with her basic wishes. Unfortunately, Cathy did not sign the note so it could not be considered her legal Will. It was, however, a relief to know I had managed to do what she had wanted, but a Will would have made the process a whole lot simpler. I urge everyone who doesn’t have a Will to act now. Life is too short and tomorrow may be too late! s
Thora Rogers lives in North Vancouver, BC.
Thora (left) and Cathy
68
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BC Notaries Association
Volume 29 Number 1 Spring 2020
