A new online survey of 800 B.C. residents found that 66 per cent of respondent parents of children under the age of 18 don91裸聊视频檛 have a will.

For a family without a will if something happens to one or both parents, custody of the children and property distribution may not occur as the deceased intended. Furthermore, if the Public Guardian and Trustee is brought in to administer the estate, the province may then decide on the future of dependent children and assets.

91裸聊视频淭he costs of administering your estate may also be higher if a current and legal will does not exist,91裸聊视频� said Tarja McLean, a Notary in Kelowna.

91裸聊视频淥ne of the kindest things you can do for your family and loved ones is to have a will in place, so it91裸聊视频檚 one less thing they need to worry about after you91裸聊视频檙e gone.91裸聊视频�

The survey was carried by Ipsos for BC Notaries during last month in lead to Make A Will Week in B.C., declared for April 8 to 14.

The survey also revealed that overall only 44 per cent of respondents had a will in place and only 57 per cent had a current will.

Related: Columnist Paul Hergott discusses importance of making a will

91裸聊视频淲e know that too many people pass without a will in place because Notaries help families navigate the bureaucracy and uncertainty created for those left behind,91裸聊视频� said Rhoda Witherly, president of B.C. Notaries.

91裸聊视频淓ven for us, this finding that two-thirds of parents with dependent children don91裸聊视频檛 have a will is surprisingly high and a concern for those families.91裸聊视频�

McLean said for parents to not have a will is often related to facing the reality of their demise at some point and facing difficult questions such as who will look after their children and distribution of their assets.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 one of the hardest things to face up to but once you start talking about it and as you go through the process it gets a little easier to talk about,91裸聊视频� McLean said.

She said for parents, they may face issues with their elderly relatives that require legal attention and tend to overlook potential legal concerns regarding their own children.

91裸聊视频淭he feeling sometimes is your kids are too young or you as parent are too young to worry about it, or you are just starting out in life and don91裸聊视频檛 have many assets to worry about. But it is never too early to do a will,91裸聊视频� McLean said.

91裸聊视频淯nfortunately it does happen, a horrific accident takes place and the parents are lost and it91裸聊视频檚 heartbreaking to see a family left behind without a plan in place for what happens next.91裸聊视频�

Jennifer O91裸聊视频橠onnell, a Penticton Notary, said a will can typically be done with a Notary in two short meetings.

91裸聊视频淒uring the first meeting, we will discuss a general overview of your assets and your intentions for their distribution. The second meeting finalizes you plan and your paperwork,91裸聊视频� O91裸聊视频橠onnell said.

91裸聊视频淎 good way to start the process is to think about who you would want to care for your children, inherit your home and any other assets.91裸聊视频�

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

barry.gerding@blackpress.ca
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