Plan Ahead <br/><br/>

Recently, the dioceses of Halifax, Winnipeg and Toronto each established a Stewardship and Development Centre. Its main purpose is to provide Catholics with advice on managing their estates that facilitates things like proper medical care when one becomes sick and, in the event of one’s death, proper conveyance of the estates to family, friends, charities or the Church according to one’s wishes.<br/><br/>

By law, an individual in Ontario can give Power of Attorney to someone else to make decisions regarding medical care and arrangements on behalf of the individual when he or she becomes incapacitated (Living Will).<br/><br/>

Similarly, a Power of Attorney can also be given to a designate to take care of the individual’s financial and estate matters after his or her death. (Will) If a will has not been prepared, the only option is for the Courts to administer the conveyance of the estates according to the law. In this case, close friends, charities and the Church cannot be beneficiaries. Ironically, the Courts sometimes charge an administrative fee.<br/><br/>

Statistics show that 48% of Canadians have a will, and only 8% of those bequeath at least part of their estates to charitable organizations.<br/><br/>

Deacon Peter Doyle is the advisor for the Toronto Archdiocese’s Stewardship and Development Centre. He would be glad to take your questions at (416) 934-3400 ext. 561 at the Archdiocese of Toronto Catholic Pastoral Centre.<br/><br/>

By planning ahead, we can lighten the burden on our families when the unforeseen happens.