Wills and Related Documents
Wills and related documents protect an individual’s rights and desires after their death. An Enduring Power of Attorney, Health Care Representation Agreement, Living Will and/or Health Care Directive can help one plan for the time when they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves on account of disability.
Richard Wenner has extensive experience in helping clients to understand and make decisions that lead to the creation of the important documents that guide their physical and financial well-being while ill, and protect their interests beyond life. Richard also works with families where a loved one is in diminished capacity but such documents do not exist. Richard’s experience includes preparation of the following:
- Wills
- Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements
- Trusts including Alter Ego and Joint Partner Trusts
- Living Wills
- Wills Variation Act avoidance
- Committeeship applications
Estate Planning
Estate Planning is the process of organizing your affairs so that:
- Your estate is distributed as you want it to be distributed while minimizing the risk of litigation;
- Your assets are organized in manner that will to reduce the chance of paying unnecessary taxes.
Richard works closely with clients, their accountants and their financial advisors to ensure an estate planning strategy is put in place that carefully reflects the goals and financial objectives of the client. Emphasis is on achieving a client’s goals while simultaneously minimizing tax liabilities and mitigating the possibility of future estate litigation.
Post Death Administration
The existence of a will significantly simplifies the post-death processing of assets; but it does not eliminate the need for adherence to regulations and taxation. This can be overwhelming for surviving family members, but needn’t be. Richard has extensive experience in assisting executors with administering estates, and counselling them throughout the process of Post Death Administration (including obtaining Grant of Letters Probate or Grant of Letters Administration). Richard is detail oriented and conscientious and he establishes excellent rapport with his clients to ensure the process is carried out as smoothly as possible.