Notarial Services

Notary Rivka Bodokh provides professional notarial services to individuals, couples and families in Montreal and the surrounding area.

Her practice focuses on wills, protection mandates, powers of attorney, successions, will searches and related estate-planning matters. Each mandate is approached carefully and personally, with documents prepared according to the client’s particular family situation, wishes and needs.

Services are available in English and French, and appointments may be offered in person or virtually where appropriate.

Wills

A will is one of the most important documents you can prepare for yourself and your family. It allows you to clearly establish how your estate is to be distributed after your death and who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes.

Me Bodokh prepares notarial wills tailored to each client’s personal, family and financial circumstances.

A will may address matters such as:

  • The designation of beneficiaries
  • The distribution of your property and assets
  • The appointment of one or more liquidators to settle your estate
  • The designation of replacement liquidators
  • Particular gifts or legacies
  • Provisions concerning minor children
  • The creation of trusts or other provisions for children or beneficiaries, where appropriate
  • Instructions concerning the administration and distribution of the estate
  • Other wishes relating to the settlement of your succession

A notarial will made before a Quebec notary generally does not need to be probated after death, which can simplify the succession process and avoid the time and cost associated with probate.

Whether you are preparing your first will, updating an existing will following a marriage, separation, birth of a child, change in assets or other life event, Me Bodokh can assist you in putting your wishes into a clear and properly drafted notarial document.

Protection Mandates

A protection mandate allows you to decide in advance who you would want to care for you and manage your affairs if you were to become incapable of doing so yourself.

A protection mandate may include provisions relating to:

  • The appointment of the person or persons who will look after your well-being
  • The management of your property and finances
  • Payment of your expenses and financial obligations
  • Decisions concerning your residence and living arrangements
  • Instructions concerning personal care
  • Powers granted to the person administering your affairs
  • The appointment of replacement mandataries
  • Measures intended to provide oversight or accountability

Me Bodokh works with clients to prepare protection mandates that are clear, practical and adapted to their circumstances.

Preparing a protection mandate can provide important reassurance for both the client and their family by establishing in advance who should act and what their responsibilities should be if incapacity occurs.

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney allows you to authorize someone you trust to act on your behalf for certain financial and administrative matters.

Me Bodokh prepares powers of attorney adapted to the client’s specific needs and circumstances.

Successions (Estate Settlement)

The death of a loved one can be an emotionally difficult time, while the settlement of an estate can involve numerous legal, administrative and practical steps.

Me Bodokh assists families, heirs and liquidators with the notarial aspects of settling a succession in Quebec, helping clients understand what needs to be done and in what order.

Will Searches

Following a death in Québec a will search through the Chambre des notaires and Barreau du Québec registries are required to verify whether the deceased person left a will. This important step helps families identify the last testament.

Urgent Wills

Subject to availability and the client’s circumstances, Me Bodokh may offer urgent appointments for the preparation and signing of notarial wills in Montreal.

Urgent assistance may be appropriate where a client:

  • Is facing an upcoming medical procedure
  • Has experienced a significant change in health
  • Is preparing to travel
  • Needs to update an outdated will quickly
  • Is receiving palliative or end-of-life care
  • Has experienced another significant or time-sensitive change in circumstances

Availability for urgent matters cannot be guaranteed and will depend on the circumstances of each request.

Hospital Wills & Hospital Visits 

When a client is hospitalized, receiving palliative care or otherwise unable to attend the office, Me Bodokh may be able to travel to the client for the preparation or signing of a notarial will.

Hospital visits may be available throughout the Island of Montreal, subject to availability, the circumstances of the client and the requirements for preparing a valid notarial will.

Hospital will services may be appropriate for clients who:

  • Are currently hospitalized
  • Are receiving palliative or end-of-life care
  • Have experienced a sudden change in health
  • Require a new will or an urgent change to an existing will
  • Are physically unable to travel to the notary’s office

The client must have the legal capacity required to make a will. 

Hospital visits may be available at hospitals and care facilities throughout Montreal, including the CHUM, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal General Hospital, MUHC Glen Site, St. Mary’s Hospital Center, Mount Sinai Hospital and other hospitals, palliative-care facilities and care centres.