Preparing for death: I need advice for helping a family member get things in order

[Since1984]

So, to make things brief...My Mother has metastatic breast cancer and has been given a relatively short life expectancy and we are all trying to get everything prepared/sorted for the eventual time she passes away. So I have a few questions and requests I have:

1. Does anyone know of or want to recommend a Lawyer that I can send my mother to, to get her will reworked. I prefer someone that has experience in this. As a follow-up question to this, can this lawyer act as the executor while I am second/partial executor?

2. Anyone who has dealt with this, would you recommend getting a lawyer as the executor?

Thanks in advance! I just want to try and make everything as easy as possible for both my Mother and the rest of my family when it comes to this.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I have no advice but I'm so sorry that you and your family are going through this.

[CaptainCrunch]

Man, I'm sorry.



I will say that I sent my folks to Troutman on will stuff and he did a great job with them.

[DionTheDman]

So sorry to hear that. Best wishes to your mom.

I am a lawyer in Calgary but I do not work in this area. If I were to refer a client for this sort of thing I would typically recommend one of:

Jared Kantor - https://www.kantorllp.ca/estate-liti.../jared-kantor/
Darryl Aarbo - https://aflawyers.ca/lawyers/darryl-aarbo/

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

So sorry to hear that. Best wishes to your mom.

I am a lawyer in Calgary but I do not work in this area. If I were to refer a client for this sort of thing I would typically recommend one of:

Jared Kantor - https://www.kantorllp.ca/estate-liti.../jared-kantor/
Darryl Aarbo - https://aflawyers.ca/lawyers/darryl-aarbo/

Thank you, I will be compiling a list and we will go over the options Friday night as best as we can.

[bc-chris]

oh man - so sorry to hear this.

i can't help you at all with your questions.

i went thru this almost 4 years ago with my dad - it sucked... and honestly, it still sucks.
i started a thread after we found out his diagnosis looking for ideas/suggestions from others who have already been down this road and honestly it was a huge help. https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=159736

[troutman]

Not just a Will, but she should do a Personal Directive, and possibly Power of Attorney too (if she does not already have these).

Usually, I would not suggest naming a lawyer as a Executor. Better to appoint someone she knows personally, and trusts with financial matters (relative or good friend). Appoint an alternate too. The named Executor can get assistance from accountants, lawyers etc. If no one like that is available, I would suggest appointing a Trust Company.

[Locke]

I'm sorry you have to go through this, but I will say that I commend you for your forward thinking.

You probably have no idea how many people dont prepare for this kind of thing.

Its most people.

I also deal with troutman.

[Timbo]

Sorry that this is happening to your Mom and your family.
I also dealt with troutman and found his services to be professional, prompt and thorough.

[TheIronMaiden]

Getting the passwords to all online accounts so you can shut them down is an often over looked step.

Stuff like amazon, cellphone, online banking ect. Social media is less important but still an option.

[Hockeyguy15]

If I remember correctly when my wife was executor for her aunt some places were a little difficult to deal with. If she could pro-actively put the executor as a secondary name on the account (banking/utilities/cable) and all that it may be easier for them to make changes when the time comes.

[Since1984]

Thanks everyone. I know I will probably run out of thanks soon!

Thanks for all the recommendations, I will also have to get my Sisters and Mom together to discuss/plan her funeral or celebration of life. I already know that no one is allowed to wear black. If they do, the can kindly go buy a shirt of their favorite color.