Wills & Estate Law

Wills & Estates Lawyers in Nova Scotia

Planning for the future is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family, your assets and the wishes you want carried out.

At DCL Law, our wills and estates lawyers provide practical, personalized legal guidance to individuals and families throughout Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality and Nova Scotia.

Whether you are preparing your first will, updating an existing estate plan, appointing someone to manage your affairs or dealing with the estate of a loved one, we can help you understand your options and put the appropriate legal documents in place.

Our goal is to make estate planning clear, manageable and tailored to your individual circumstances.

Estate Planning That Protects What Matters Most

A properly prepared estate plan can provide clarity for your family, help protect your assets and reduce uncertainty during difficult times.

Estate planning is not only about distributing property after death. It can also include deciding who will make financial or personal care decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions yourself.

At DCL Law, we take the time to understand your family situation, financial circumstances and long term goals before recommending an appropriate plan.

Addressing these issues in advance can provide greater certainty and peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Our lawyers can help you consider important questions such as:

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Will Preparation

A will is an important legal document that sets out how you want your estate handled after your death.

Without a properly prepared will, the distribution of your estate may be determined by provincial law rather than by your personal wishes.

DCL Law can assist with the preparation and review of wills that reflect your family circumstances and estate planning objectives.

We can also review an existing will and help determine whether changes may be appropriate following significant life events.

Your will may address:

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When Should You Update Your Will?

Your estate plan should evolve as your life changes.

Even if your circumstances have not changed significantly, periodically reviewing your estate plan can help ensure that it continues to reflect your wishes.

It may be appropriate to review or update your will following events such as:

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Planning for Minor Beneficiaries or Beneficiaries with Disabilities

Leaving assets directly to a minor child or a beneficiary who requires additional support can create important legal and financial considerations.

Our lawyers can advise you on ways to structure inheritances and trusts to help protect assets and provide for beneficiaries appropriately.

Thoughtful planning can help ensure that your estate supports your beneficiaries in the way you intended.

Planning may include considerations relating to:

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Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to manage financial or legal matters on your behalf in certain circumstances.

This can be an important component of a complete estate plan. In Nova Scotia, an enduring power of attorney is one that continues to operate if you later lose the capacity to manage your own affairs.

Depending on your needs, a power of attorney may provide authority to manage matters such as:

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Choosing the right person and clearly documenting their authority can help ensure your affairs are managed appropriately if you are unable to manage them yourself.

Personal Care Directives

A personal care directive, sometimes referred to as a living will, allows you to provide instructions regarding personal care decisions and appoint someone to make certain decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so.

A personal care directive may address issues involving:

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Preparing these instructions in advance can help your family understand your wishes and reduce uncertainty during a difficult time.

Probate and Estate Administration

The death of a family member can create both emotional and administrative challenges.

Executors and family members may be responsible for locating assets, paying debts, dealing with financial institutions, managing property and distributing the estate to beneficiaries.

DCL Law can assist executors and families with probate and estate administration in Nova Scotia. We also assist with estate administration if there is no will.

Our goal is to help executors understand their responsibilities and move through the estate administration process as efficiently as possible.

Our Estate Administration Services May Include:

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