Planning Your Estate
Our comprehensive, step-by-step Estate Planning process
Estate planning can be a complex topic to approach as it often brings up difficult emotions and forces us to confront our own mortality or the loss of loved ones. At P&B Law, we understand the emotional weight that accompanies estate planning.
Our goal is to provide a supportive and transparent process that offers peace of mind, ensuring that your estate is managed in a way that is aligned with your wishes. Here’s an overview of how we guide you through the estate planning journey with care and expertise.
Why estate planning matters
Estate planning is about both dividing assets and ensuring that your wishes are honoured, your loved ones are protected, and any potential legal complications are avoided. Efficient planning can help reduce the tax burden and legal costs associated with transferring your estate and make sure your loved ones are provided for after you're gone.
P&B Law’s estate planning process
Our detailed estate planning process is designed to be thorough and stress-free, providing you with clarity and confidence. Here’s a step-by-step guide to our detailed approach:
1. Initial Consultation
The planning begins with a brief five-to-ten-minute conversation with one of our experienced lawyers or estate planning clerks. This general discussion will answer any questions you may have and help us understand your initial needs and concerns.
2. Estate Planning Checklist
Following the initial consultation, we will provide you with our Estate Planning Checklist. This checklist serves two primary purposes. It helps you start thinking about important estate planning matters, such as assets, beneficiaries and personal wishes. It also assists us in collecting the necessary information to tailor your estate plan to your specific circumstances.
3. Detailed Discussion
Once you’ve completed the checklist, we’ll schedule a more in-depth meeting. This can take place either in person or over Zoom, depending on your preference. During this meeting, we will discuss your estate planning needs in detail, take initial instructions and note any specific wishes or concerns. We'll also answer any questions you might have regarding the process or legal implications.
4. Letter of Advice
After our meeting, we will send you a comprehensive letter of advice. This document will summarise what was discussed during our meeting, outline the instructions you provided, and identify any areas that require further information or consideration.
5. Preparation of Documents
Once we receive the additional information requested in the letter of advice, we will proceed to draft your estate planning documents. These may include:
- Your Will, which outlines the distribution of your assets and the care of any dependants.
- A Statement of Wishes, which provides additional guidance on how you want your affairs handled.
- Powers of Attorney, which appoints someone to manage your affairs if you become unable to do so.
6. Final Review and Signing
Upon completion of the draft documents, we will schedule a final meeting. During this session, we will review each document with you in detail to ensure accuracy and alignment with your wishes and make any final adjustments based on your feedback.
Once you're satisfied that everything is correct, you will sign the documents, and our office will witness them to ensure they are legally binding.
By following our comprehensive Estate Planning approach, you can ensure that your intentions are clearly documented and legally protected. Get in touch to start planning your estate with confidence and peace of mind.
Please note: The information covered in this guide is general and should never be substituted for professional legal advice. Contact us for further information.