Organizing your Will can be intimidating and sensitive, but part of your personal journey involves planning for the future. This means ensuring that your last wishes are fulfilled so that friends and family will be honored in the way that you think best. Putting it off means that you may have less control over your end-of-life care and legacy – your loved ones may also be forced to make difficult decisions and manage your estate during this most difficult of times. Worse, they may be left financially unprepared and excluded from the estate process with no power to advocate for your wishes.
Many people living with Parkinson’s say that their families were relieved to know they had completed their Will and Powers of Attorney. It freed them to focus on their health and spend their energy on the things that matter most.
Earl and Shirley Simard are a couple who have included a gift in their Wills to Parkinson Society Canada. “Besides the tax benefits for the estate, our children will not have to make any decisions in this regard and we can direct how the funds are used,” said Earl Simard whose wife, Shirley, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009.
Once your family is cared for, you may want to leave a charitable gift to Parkinson Society Canada in your Will. A bequest can reduce taxes on your estate and enrich the lives of people struggling with Parkinson’s at the same time. Our Will planning toolkit is a great resource that will walk you through the process to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. You can ensure that the people who are most important to you are financially prepared. Give them the gift of remembering their loved one without being overwhelmed by details.
Take the first step and talk about your wishes with family and trusted friends. You don’t have to deal with this on your own – please contact Elizabeth Banman at 1-800-565-3000 ext. 3385 to request your free Will planning tool kit today. Check out the Gift and Estate Planning section of our website for more information, sign up for My Parkinson Legacy newsletter or get started with your free Will planning toolkit today.