Proudly Serving the Toronto Community
6150 Yonge Street | Toronto, ON M2M 3W9
DO I NEED A LAWYER
While there is no requirement to use a lawyer, probate is a rather formal procedure. One minor omission, one failure to send a copy of the petition, or a missed deadline, can cause everything to come to a grinding halt or expose everyone to liability.
The death of a family member or friend is a very difficult time in peoples lives and to add the burden of estate settlement can be remarkably overwhelming. A lawyer can be a neutral voice for all members of the family to deal with and remove any opportunity for family confrontation. Minor matters, or any delays or inconveniences can be upsetting, pose issues of fairness, and create unfounded tension among family members. Thus it generally is a very good idea to "let a lawyer do it".
To assist with keeping these costs down, R. S. Kane offers an organizational tool called "The Executor's Toolkit". This folder/booklet/cd are invaluable for letting you do some of the legwork, and handling some very basic items, allowing the lawyer to deal with the bigger issues.
