A Pebble, A Pond, and Your Will

Have you ever dropped a pebble into a pond? When the stone hits the water, you will see ripple after ripple spreading out from the point of impact.

Your will could be like that. Properly prepared, your will can create a ripple effect of goodness and generosity to the people and organizations you care about. You could ensure family members can afford the costs of higher education. A piece of jewellery that a friend has long admired could now be hers. You could also leave something to the charities you have respected and supported financially during your lifetime — a charity like The Ottawa Mission. The possibilities are endless but to make these good things happen, you must have a will.

Preparing a will or updating one you already have is easy to put off. There are other priorities. It’s an extra expense. It’s a subject many would simply prefer not to deal with. If you don’t have a will, however, you lose control of what happens to your assets. Gifts to specific individuals or to organizations will not occur. Your estate will be divided according to provincial statute and may go to close relatives who may not need the money or, worse, from whom you are estranged.

A will is just an essential document to have for the above reasons and more. Think of a pebble hitting the water. Think of the potential for good a gift in your will could have. Then, contact a lawyer and get the conversation started. If leaving a gift in your will to The Ottawa Mission Foundation is something you would like to consider, we would be pleased to speak with you in confidence to explore options.