Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are certain factors that are very important in dealing with estates; certainly, the size of the estate and whether there is a will or not. Now, the public trustee, in certain cases, will assist. Generally, however, they will accept administration of estates where the only beneficiaries are children, the beneficiary is a spouse and a senior citizen. It says over the age of 65, I think, on the website, but they will go as low as 60 in age. Or the beneficiary is mentally incapable or there are significant assets and no next of kin can be found. In other circumstances, generally, the next of kin should contact a lawyer.

If those criteria are met and some other factors come into play, if the deceased person stated in his will that the public trustee was to administer the estate, more commonly, the person dies without a will and there is no one else looking after the estate or the next of kin of the deceased stated in writing that they consent to the appointment from the public trustee as administrator and they have searched but are unable to find a will of the deceased, the public trustee can assist in those circumstances, those criteria that I set out.

I mentioned the size of the estate as being important. Now, estates having a value of under $35,000 fall under a simplified process. The outreach clinic can be of assistance to residents with this simplified process. It is a trying time for families, but there can be help either through a lawyer or the public trustee in some cases or the outreach lawyer. Thanks.