Laroux Peoples, Wills & Estates Lawyer
Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada

WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING? Life doesn’t always accommodate our schedules. Many times, this type of planning falls into the important but not urgent category. But.... ... What actually happens to all the money and property you own at the end of your life? Who has to deal with all of it? Join us June 24th @ 10 am EST for a 30-minute discussion about why Estate Planning should be put onto the top of your to-do list! REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eTGYhXr Together, we will discuss how you can optimize your will and gain an understanding of other estate planning tools to bring you peace of mind. Things like.... >>Why is a Will important? >>What is Probate? >>How to pick an executor Can't Wait To See You There!!

What is a Power of Attorney for Property and how is it different from a Power of Attorney for Personal Care (also known as a personal directive)? #covid19 has brought the importance of these two documents into sharp focus. Join financial advisor and money coach Wendy Brookhouse and I this Wednesday July 8 at 10am EST for an interactive free webinar on the difference between the two documents, how important it is to have them and some things to think about before getting them... done. Link to sign up in bio. Please join us! #womensupportingwomen #financialliteracy #estateplanning #canadianwomen #womeninbusiness

WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING? Life doesnt always accommodate our schedules. Many times, this type of planning falls into the important but not urgent category. But.... ... What actually happens to all the money and property you own at the end of your life? Who has to deal with all of it? Join us June 24th @ 10 am EST for a 30-minute discussion about why Estate Planning should be put onto the top of your to-do list! REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eTGYhXr Together, we will discuss how you can optimize your will and gain an understanding of other estate planning tools to bring you peace of mind. Things like.... >>Why is a Will important? >>What is Probate? >>How to pick an executor Can't Wait To See You There!!

This is the last in our series of the top 5 reasons to get your will done now during #socialdistancing. Reason #5 is simple, provide your family with peace of mind. #estateplanning #wills #womeninlaw #powerofattorney #estates #legal

Black Lives Matter. Art: @sacree_frangine Local organizations to donate to: @blacklegalactioncentre @blacklivesmattertoronto @artbankto Some local organizations to support @howshehustles @blackcreekcommunityfarm @scarboroughmutualaid

Each Wednesday we will go through the top 5 reasons to get your will done now during #socialdistancing. Reason #4 is to ensure you are protected when you are common law. #estateplanning #wills #womeninlaw #powerofattorney #estates #legal

#lawmay2020 day 25 - pro bono. One of the major advantages of working for yourself as a lawyer is the ability to pick your own files, and more specifically, to determine what you take on pro bono. My mother was a resident support worker at one of the first womens shelters in Toronto. She did shift work assisting women who were survivors of domestic violence and their children when I was very little. How she did that in addition to several other jobs she maintained at the sa...me time all while raising a young child, still amazes me. This work she did stuck with me. Currently I take on pro bono will drafting files where a single mom is a domestic violence survivor and/or has a life threatening illness and has young children. It feels like a really small thing to assist with, but it can provide some peace of mind. What type of pro bono work do you take on? #lawyers #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #womeninlaw

#lawmay2020 challenge day 12 - life outside of law. Being a sole practitioner with a 4 and 7 year old means at this stage of my life there is not a lot of time for pursuits outside of my practice but one thing I have been very fortunate with over my lifetime is travel. My husband has had the travel bug every since I met him and we have had the good fortune of traveling to many wonderful places in our time together. Prior to having the kids, I started getting into scuba divin...g. My hope is that I will be able to enjoy it again through their eyes as the kids get bigger. I think we are all thinking about travel differently now. Not just with COVID-19 but also climate change. My hope is that the action we take now will allow for healthy biodiversity in our oceans to be enjoyed by our children and future generations. #canadianladylawyers #womeninlaw #climateaction

Day 8 - lawyer selfie. Ok, this was taken way before selfies were a thing but I wanted to share this photo from 2005. My parents are artists and won a Governor Generals Award for lifetime achievement in Visual & Media Arts that year. I got to attend the celebrations in Ottawa and got an opportunity to meet the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin. I told her about my wish to attend law school and she was very encouraging and generous with her time. I wouldn't start law school until 2007 but it was a pivotal moment in cementing my desire to be a lawyer. #lawmay2020 #canadianladylawyers #womeninlaw

Lawyers are mysterious creatures. People need them sometimes but they don't really know much about them. This great initiative by @sisulegal for the month of May #lawmay2020 allows you to peer behind the curtain and learn more about the lawyers around you. I will be jumping on stories each day to tell you a bit more about my practice. Its not like what you see on ! At least not for those of us who don't go to court. #canadianladylawyers #wills #estateplanning

Since social distancing began in Toronto in mid-March, my staff and I have been troubleshooting creative solutions to allow my clients to sign their wills & powers of attorney in the presence of two witnesses while aligning with public health recommendations and my legal obligations. Option 1- Outdoor Signings Some clients have opted for porch signings, where their neighbours watch from a safe distance as they sign the documents and I too watch from a safe distance over th...e whole procedure. Not always great on those cold days, but it is an option as the weather gets better. Option 2- Virtual Witnessing On April 22nd, the Government of Ontario created an Emergency Order allowing for the virtual witnessing of these documents by video. One main criteria is that one of the witnesses must be a licensee in Ontario (i.e. a lawyer like myself). This new procedure allows the client to be in the comfort of their own home and myself and the second witness to be in our home. We connect via videoconference (for my clients, the click of a link, no special software required) and we each take turns signing the paper version in front of us, referred to as by counterpart, which is just a fancy way of saying two separate documents which, taken together, form one legal document. This newest option allows for true #socialdistancing and is a great option in these times. Would you feel comfortable signing your will by videoconference? #COVID19 #estateplanning #wills #womeninlaw #legaltechnology

Due to #COVID19 the Ontario government has enacted emergency measures under Ontario Regulation 2020.0240.e5 allowing for the video witnessing of will & power of attorney documents. Sadly, one original will only means that paper copy will must be passed from testator to both witnesses in a delayed manner due to social distancing. This raises concerns about losing the will throughout this process and creates many unnecessary logistical complications for the drafting solicitor. ...The technology for e-signatures is available yet remains prohibited under s.31 of Ontarios Electronic Commerce Act. This Wednesday, I look forward to being a part of The Lawtrepreneur Community's Digital Summit to discuss what should be done to address permanent changes to the signings of wills post-COVID-19. Please join us! #lawtrepreneur #wills #estateplanning #powerofattorney #estates #legal #legalinnovation https://summit.lawtrepreneur.co/talks/practical-challenges/

This is an issue we as estate planning lawyers have been dealing with in the wake of COVID-19 these past few weeks and our clients have been quite frustrated with the lack of options despite the technology being available. I hope we get a judicial result that will allow for will signings that adhere to social distancing. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-ontario-court-to/

There are lots of discussions in many industries right now in light of the Coronavirus pandemic of how to minimize face to face meetings. Our industry is no different and I wrote an article on LinkedIn about the need to move towards virtual signings of wills. I would love to hear your feedback. https://www.linkedin.com//coronavirus-pandemic-renews-case

Im hiring! Check out the link in the comments to learn more about the remote Virtual Assistant position. #herewegrowagain #remotework #remotejobs #womeninlaw #femaleentrepreneurlife

Supportive networks are the key to success in business. Im thrilled to be featured in @herlegalnetwork an incredibly initiative created by Thijiba Sinnathamby to provide a one stop list of amazing solo and small female legal practitioners in Ontario. Learn a bit more about my practice on the blog! #womeninlaw #supportsmallbusiness #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #entrepreneurlife #femaleentrepreneurship https://www.herlegalnetwork.com/featureher/laroux-peoples

This week I sat down with With Care, a local West End mom and community parenting expert, to discuss the importance of making an estate plan and top tips. Please watch this video and leave any questions below! Please note this video does not constitute legal advice or establish a solicitor/client relationship by way of any information contained herein. The contents are intended for general information purposes only and under no circumstances can be relied upon for legal decision-making. Please consult with a qualified lawyer to seek advice concerning the specifics of your particular situation.

Enjoyed speaking at the Law Society of Ontarios Probate Essentials 2019. Thanks to my co-presenters Alex Procope and Ambie Edgar-Chana and to Kim @whaleyestatelitigation for the opportunity! @ Osgoode Hall

7 best girlfriends made a promise to retire together and built their dream home years before they move in. What an inspiration and innovating thinking for retired living! With our current housing market and ageing population, an interesting model. #estateplanning #elderlaw #womensupportingwomen

Changing the way we think about living environments for those with advanced dementia. A very interesting model. https://www.ted.com//yvonne_van_amerongen_the_dementia_vil

A very energizing Saturday talking about financial literacy for women with women entrepreneurs who assist women in all aspects - financial planning, accounting and estate planning. Thank you to Mississauga Erin Mills Women's Council for having me and for hosting such a wonderful event. #womenhelpingwomen #financialliteracy #womeninbuisiness

Yesterday was a career highlight in my entrepreneurial journey. I had the pleasure of co-organizing a panel of women lawyers for the Ontario Bar Association Women Lawyers Forum for women who have their own practice who also have young children. We chatted to a packed room and as many people via webcast about the challenges and triumphs of running a practice with kids. The President of the OBA provided opening remarks. It was a day I will not forget, and hopefully the first in a series to come! @ Ontario Bar Association

Ever wonder what the difference is between dying with or without a will? I co-wrote a blog post on this subject with the lovely Kim Gale of Gale Law. (The infographics are all hers)! Please share and let me know your thoughts. https://lawformillennials.com/die-tomorrow/

Creative. This is not a word I use to describe myself very often. In fact I am very self-conscious about it seeing as my parents are artists and I became a lawyer! But today in an interview with software developers at @lexicata I was told I had been using their software in a creative way to better assist my clients. So there you have it, lawyers can be creative after all! How are you creative? #entrepreneur #freelancelawyer #freelancemum #momentrepreneur #ladylawyer

I was chatting with a woman on the weekend and she thought that having life insurance and no will meant her small kids would be accounted for if her and her husband passed away. This is a common misconception that I think stems from the fact that each jurisdiction does things differently and there are many places where what happens to a persons assets and children is dictated by statute. Parents in Ontario, you need a will to ensure the kids go to who you choose if you die and to govern the terms of a trust. November is Make a Will Month. Give me a call. #OBAMakeAWill #momboss #momentrepreneur

My daughter was up last night, screaming. I rushed to her and panic set in, could she be sick, will she miss daycare? What meetings may have to be cancelled? You have been there, many of you, I know. I wrote about this specifically through the lens of the sole practitioner and female lawyer in my two lawyer relationship for the Ontario Bar Association's Women's Lawyers Forum. Check it out and let me know your thoughts! https://www.oba.org//The-Rules-of-Engagement-When-Autumn-D

"The reasons why fathers avoid making wills appear, at first, to be rather silly and overtly superstition driven (If I prepare for my death, I will die, the magical thinking goes). But its more than that. A deeper look reveals that many fathers delay estate planning for a variety of complicated reasons, many of them only half-understood by the men themselves." Great article in Fatherly about the importance of drafting wills. https://www.fatherly.com//men-suck-at-dying-estate-planni/