After you arrive in Canada as a worker or permanent resident, your immediate immigration needs are met - but your legal needs are not all met. One of our clients recently moved to back to Canada with his foreign wife after living abroad for many years and tragically died shortly after their arrival. While their foreign-born son is eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship because his father is Canadian, his wife has no status in Canada. Now in addition to mourning her husband, she has added complications because she is not yet a Canadian legal resident. They had made new wills when they married and had their child, but they had not updated them when they moved to Canada.
This tragedy motived me to ensure our immigration clients are set up for post-arrival legal services. We now have the expertise on our team to provide wills and estate planning legal services through our firm.
Ackah Law Post Arrival Wills and Estate Planning Services
Ackah Law is expanding our practice areas and offering wills and estate planning services to our immigration clients. When you come to Canada as a foreign worker or permanent resident, you will need a will or other changes to your estate plan. After you arrive in Canada, you have a lot of paperwork to complete and things to do to settle into your new life, your job or your studies. It's easy for important things to be overlooked or forgotten.
Are You Required to Have a Will In Canada?
You are not legally required to have a will in Canada. However, if you don't have a will, the laws in the province or territory you live in will determine how your estate is divided - not necessarily the laws of your home country. A will is a legal document that says how you want your assets to be distributed if you die. Your estate includes what you own (called assets) and what you owe (called liabilities). An up-to-date will can help your estate representative deal with your estate when you die. Provinces and territories set the laws for estate planning.
A lawyer who is trained in wills and estate planning services and has expertise in immigration laws can give immigrants peace of mind and protect their future and the futures of their families and loved ones.
Let Us Help Protect Your Loved Ones
Now, our law firm can help you protect your loved ones by offering wills and estate planning services. Call Ackah Law today at (403) 452-9515 to discuss what steps you should take now to protect your family and loved ones.
