Please Do It

Even if you believe you don’t have much of an estate, it’s important to make a Will.

The articles in this issue will help you know more about • Personal & Estate Planning (to protect the assets you do have); • the legal documents you need; and • the process for updating those documents over time. It is always better to consult an experienced legal professional when you decide to create or update your Will, Representation Agreement, Advance (Health Care) Directive, and Power of Attorney. (WRAP)

That will help ensure that the clearly stated intent, instructions, and wishes in your documents will prevail.

To create those important legal documents, confer with and trust a BC Notary with the details about your family and estate situation. BC Notaries really care about helping their clients ease the sting of making decisions that may be causing personal stress or confusion.

It is essential that you have serious conversations with your loved ones about legal planning. Enter the conversations with an open mind.

Here is a delightful story about a loving grandma whose family members were very reluctant (in fact, refused) to discuss her eventual demise—and also their own. She invited them all to dinner at her home. When they arrived, Grandma made it very clear that the family was about to hear the plans and wishes she had stated in her Will and other planning documents. She also announced that talking about their own Wills was a required activity that day! “Do you want dessert?”

When they saw Grandma was totally serious about the Wills subject, one by one they agreed to comply! Her happiness was very important to each of them.

Welcome to our new writer, BC Notary Jeremy Andersen, CPA, MBA, for the topic of Tax. His first article is on page 64.

Do it NOW!

This true story is about two close friends in their 40s who delayed creating the legal documents that would protect their interests.

John lent David $200,000 to start a business. The loan was totally undocumented. “I will have the legal docs prepared next week to show that I owe you that money,” David assured John. The next day, David perished in a tragic highway crash. John was left to grieve the death of his buddy and the foreverlost $200,000.

My Wishes for 2023

This year it will become fashionable for people to be kinder to each other, tell the truth, stop labelling/ criticizing others, and to better accept individuals who are different.

Let’s espouse the values of kindness, courtesy, consideration, appreciation, and respect—and apply them liberally throughout the New Year! s Val Wilson, Editor-in-Chief