Labour Day marks the end of summer every year — a well-deserved pause before the back-to-school season begins. But beyond the statutory holiday, this long September weekend can also become a rare opportunity to stop and look at what you've truly built: a family, a home, plans for the future. And above all, to ask yourself whether all of it is protected as it should be.
What You've Built Deserves to Be Protected
Years of working, saving, paying down a mortgage, raising children — that is often what life looks like for an active adult in Laval or the greater Montréal area. A patrimony built patiently, brick by brick, that represents far more than simple financial assets. It is your family's security. It is the future you envisioned for the people you love.
Yet, in the whirlwind of daily life, one essential question is often pushed to the back burner: have you put in place the legal documents needed to ensure that everything is protected if something were to change?
The Will: Expressing Your Wishes, Clearly
Under Quebec law, in the absence of a valid will, it is the state that determines how your property will be transferred upon your death. That is not necessarily what you would want for your family. A notarial will allows you to express your wishes in a clear, secure, and virtually uncontestable manner. It also offers peace of mind to those you love, at the moment when they need it most.
The Protection Mandate: Anticipating the Unexpected
What if you were to become temporarily — or permanently — unable to make decisions for yourself? Under Quebec law, a protection mandate is the document that designates the person you trust to manage your personal and financial affairs in such a situation. Without this document, your loved ones often find themselves helpless, faced with lengthy and costly proceedings before the courts.
Labour Day is precisely the kind of moment that lends itself to reflecting on these questions — not in a rush, but with the calm that a long weekend affords.
Putting It Off: A Common Reflex, but a Risky One
Many Laval households — homeowners, parents, common-law or married spouses — know they should consult a notary to put their affairs in order. But between the children, professional obligations, and the countless demands of daily life, that plan keeps getting pushed back. Always just a little bit longer.
What people forget is that the unexpected doesn't wait. An accident, an illness, a sudden death — these events happen without warning and often at the worst possible time. The absence of notarial planning never makes things easier for the family left behind. It makes them harder.
Documents to Consider Based on Your Situation
Depending on your personal and family circumstances, various notarial deeds may be of benefit to you. Among them:
- The notarial will, to organize the transfer of your property
- The protection mandate, to protect your person and your finances in the event of incapacity
- The common-law partnership agreement, to define your rights outside of marriage
- The marriage or civil union contract, to tailor the matrimonial regime to your actual situation
Me Petrulian will walk you through the details during your consultation, based on your specific circumstances and your family objectives.
The Notary: A Long-Term Partner, Not Just for a Transaction
People often think of a notary when purchasing a property. But the role of a notary in Sainte-Dorothée, as throughout Québec, extends well beyond real estate transactions. A notary is a trusted long-term partner — someone who knows your situation, grows with you, and ensures that your legal documents always reflect your current reality.
Estate planning in Laval, as elsewhere, is an ongoing process. A will drafted ten years ago may no longer account for your children, your new property, or your priorities today. A protection mandate that has not yet been formalized remains a very real vulnerability.
This long Labour Day weekend is an invitation to take stock — not with anxiety, but with the peace of mind of someone who is taking care of what truly matters.
Consult Groupe Synergie Notaires
Take advantage of this time for reflection and book an appointment with Me Mirabela Petrulian at GSN Notaires, located at 67 boulevard Samson in Laval (Sainte-Dorothée). Her team supports families and individuals in the greater Montréal area in protecting their patrimony legally, with rigour and care.
📞 (514) 399-1009 ✉️ info@gsnotaires.com
The best decision you can make this weekend may simply be to book an appointment.
Important notice: The information presented in this article is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for a consultation tailored to your particular situation.
This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. As each situation is unique, it is recommended that you consult a professional to obtain advice tailored to your particular situation.