A joint Will is a single document signed by “co-testators” (typically couples) that is meant to reflect both parties’ wishes. This is often regarded as a bad idea, maybe worse than having no Will at all. In short, do not write a joint Will since there may be complications if either partner changes their mind or wants to revise the Will. There may also be problems if the partner tries to change the terms of a joint Will, since they may be bound by the original terms.

Yes. A Power of Attorney (also known as a Power of Attorney for Finances) and a Living Will (also known as a Power of Attorney for Health Care) are important documents that should be written and maintained at the same time as your Will.

Friends and colleagues might appear as witnesses if they are not named as beneficiaries in your Will.

If you die without a legal Will, your property will be treated as a “inheritance,” which is a property without a Will. In these cases, the court must select a person or individuals to administer and distribute the estate in accordance with inheritance laws. The resulting distribution is frequently in conflict with your objectives or intentions, and might have unexpected consequences. This legal process is often more expensive than a simple Will written by a firm.

We advise that you have your estate planning reviewed every five years by a lawyer from the lawyers at Taman Singh Law to verify that your choices are followed, that your estate plan properly meets your current needs, and that there have been no changes to your assets or the governing laws.

Illness, marriage, forming a family, the birth of children, changes in financial circumstances, and separation/divorce are all life events that should lead you to revise your estate plan.