A poll by CIBC in 2012 discovered that as many as one-half of adults do not have a Will, the most basic starting point for your estate plan. If you own a home, any investments, or even just a car, you need an estate plan.

Without a Will, government laws will dictate where your estate will be distributed, and the allocations may not reflect your wishes, or the needs of your beneficiaries. The result can be the selling of assets that your family needs, or paying unnecessary taxes.

As a matter of process, I ask clients to have a Will and Power of Attorney for Property.