Finances, Estate Planning and Advanced Care Planning - Whistler Mature Action Community

The following is for personal information and does not constitute legal advice. MAC members are encouraged to seek their own legal or financial advice. MAC is not responsible for any outdated information.

BC Government Resource on Financial and Legal Matters

Throughout life, we sometimes face unexpected legal or financial situations. As we age, our health and living circumstances may make us even more vulnerable to change.

For information on how to arrange your finances to maintain a good quality of life as you age.

Tax Topics for Seniors (from Canada Revenue Agency)

Information to topics such as tax return, type of income of seniors, credits for seniors, Pension income splitting, RRSP, Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Canadian residents going down south, Non-resident seniors, Tax treaties, Old age security (OAS) benefits repayment, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions for CPP working beneficiaries and many more.

Canada Revenue Agency's page with information on topics and services specifically for seniors.

BC Tax Programs

Many B.C. seniors have questions about their income tax returns. For example, you may need to know what to declare as income, and the tax credits for which you’re eligible.

Reverse Mortgage Information for Seniors

A reverse mortgage is a type of loan made to senior citizen homeowners, allowing them to use their homes as collateral to get cash. No payments on the loan are due until the homeowner dies, or the home is sold or abandoned.

Information from Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

Housing and Mortgages for Seniors

Mortgage financing options for seniors in Canada such as traditional mortgages, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs), and reverse mortgages.

As the Canadian population gets older, more seniors than ever before are looking at their loan options as part of their retirement planning, including the possibility of obtaining a mortgage.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Mortgage financing options for seniors in Canada such as traditional mortgages, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs), and reverse mortgages.

Mortgage financing options for people 55+

B.C. Government Property Tax Deferrement Program

Property tax deferment is available to B.C. homeowners who are 55 years or older, a surviving spouse, or eligible persons with disabilities.

Mortgage financing options for people 55+

General Legal Information

Clicklaw

“Welcome to Clicklaw This site provides legal information, education and help for British Columbians. Lists 12 common questions, such as “ How do I make a Will?” and “I am the Executor ….” By clicking on the applicable question, you will find excellent resources for background reading and where to get help with questions and document preparation.”

Common Questions Starting points for common legal questions

Access Pro Bono

Lawyer Referral Service helps British Columbians find a suitable legal professional to resolve their legal problem. Any BC resident can call or book online to meet with a lawyer or a lower-cost articling clinician. Don’t confuse this Lawyer Referral Service with legal aid. In BC, legal aid is provided exclusively by Legal Aid BC to British Columbians on very low income who qualify for their services. See link below.

(30 minutes free) advice

Legal Aid

Has a range of free services that may help. Priority given to people with low incomes, but many services are available to all British Columbians. Services offered include representation, advice from duty counsel lawyers or family advice lawyers and Advance Planning Clinics.

Support for very low income British Columbians

Qase Online Lawyer Referral Service

An on-line referral service to experienced lawyers to help you resolve your legal problem. Signing up for an account and first consultations are always free. If you hire a lawyer, there is no retainer or up-front fees. Lawyer rates are transparent and you only pay for actual time worked on the case.

No cost 15 minute consultation to help find suitable legal representation.

Fixed Fee Legal Services

Highly trained legal professionals provide fixed-fee and client-centred services locally or virtually, in a wide range of areas covering everyday legal problems.

Where prospective lawyers provide direction and advice

Vancouver Justice Access Centre

Operates a resource support service out of a room in the Vancouver Law Courts.

Advanced Planning for Aging

There are two key types of planning: Personal planning – making arrangements for while you are alive but you may need assistance due to an illness, injury or disability and Estate planning – making arrangements for after death.

Advance Care Planning Guide

“My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment”, prepared by
the B.C. Ministry of Health, which is comprehensive and easy to read. It also contains forms for your Advanced Care Plans, such as PoA’s and Rep Agreements. Having a voice in decisions about your health care treatment is important. There may come a time when, due to illness or injury, you are incapable of expressing your treatment wishes to health care providers. By planning in advance, you can be sure that your family, friends and/or health care providers know your wishes, and can ensure these wishes are followed.

B.C. Government's Planning Guide

Vancouver Coastal Health Advance Care Planning

Create an advance care plan at any point in your life. It’s a good idea to do it early and you can also update your plan whenever you like.

Making this plan is a chance for you to think about your values, wishes, and beliefs. That way, if you cannot speak up, your health-care team and your loved ones know exactly what you would want. Step by step information. Sign up for one of the many workshops available through Vancouver Coastal Health.

Nidus

Provides British Columbians with education, support, and assistance with personal planning and Representation Agreements, and have developed institutional expertise about the creation, use, and support around these important planning tools.

Nidus’s website is an independent non-profit’s excellent incapacity planning resource and centre and registry service

Wills and Estate Planning - Province of British Columbia

Making a will is an important part of planning for your family’s future. If you die without a will, your property will be divided according to B.C. law, and the costs to administer your estate will increase.

Legal Aid Advance Planning Clinics

Staff lawyers and volunteer legal professionals can help eligible low-income older adults (55+) with drafting and executing Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Representation Agreements.

Specifically designed for lower income seniors.

Call the Legal Aid Seniors Abuse and Information Line

BC Government Guide on Advanced Care Planning

Advance care planning begins by thinking about your beliefs, values and wishes regarding future health care treatment. When you write down your wishes and instructions for future health care, you are making an Advance Care Plan.

Making Future Health Care Decisions

Advocacy in Aging

Your Blueprint For Aging: the 5 planning pillars. Bringing together fundamental concepts: financial planning, power of attorney, downsizing, health care directives (living will), gradual transitions, and more.

Book resource available. Preparing for a seamless transition of personal care and estate management.

Estate Planning with Peter Shrimpton

Peter Shrimpton’s one hour estate planning presentation for MAC as part of the Whistler Public Library Lunch & Learn Seminar series. Peter, is an enthusiastic member of MAC who recently retired as a lawyer after 3 decades helping clients in the Sea to Sky Corridor with their legal issues, particularly in the estate and personal planning area.

One hour video presentation about Estate Planning.

Dial-a-Law

Preparing a will is a key step in planning for what happens when you pass away. Learn the essentials of preparing a will and tips for creating an estate plan.

Service provided by People's Law School. Provides free legal information (but not legal advice) in plain language.

For actual document preparation, there are many lawyers and notaries in the Corridor practicing in the estate planning area, there is the Wills Clinic Project operated by the Access Pro Bono Society, and staffed by Dept. of Justice lawyers in Vancouver.