Protecting the Forever Home – Trusts, Planning & What Happens When You’re No Longer Here with Estate Lawyer Gordon VanderLeek

Send us Fan MailIn Part Two of this informative conversation, I sit down again with estate lawyer Gordon VanderLeek, founder of VanderLeek Law, to unpack the legal and practical realities of securing a forever home for our children with disabilities.If you think buying the right house is the hard part — think again.Gordon walks us through the integrated planning that must happen behind the scenes to truly protect your child’s future. From tax implications to vulnerability risks, from Trusteeship to roommate agreements, this episode is full of insight every parent needs to hear.In This Episode We Cover:The most common mistakes families make when purchasing or transferring a homeWhy “just putting the house in your child’s name” can create serious long-term risksHow Canada’s principal residence exemption factors into planningWhy tax should never be the first priority — protection shouldHow to legally structure living arrangements with roommates or support workersThe importance of written agreements (even when everyone gets along)What happens when parents are no longer able to advocateCreating a Letter of Wishes or roadmap document to guide future caregiversPassing on financial knowledge (banking, bills, supports) before it’s neededWhether a Henson Trust can own property in Alberta — and how that worksHow Trustees should be empowered to manage repairs, renovations, or sale of the homeEnsuring there are enough funds in the Trust to support not just housing — but the whole lifeGordon also reminds us that a Trust is not just a tax tool — it’s a protective structure. And planning isn’t just about legal documents; it’s about transferring knowledge.One of the most practical takeaways?Start small. Open a document. Write one paragraph. Add to it over time. A roadmap doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to exist.Because when crisis hits, the worst time to figure this out is after the funeral.Final EncouragementYou do not have to do this alone.Bring in professionals. Talk to other parents. Build your circle. Refine your plan over time.Peace of mind comes from preparation — not perfection.If this episode helped you think differently about your child’s forever home, share it with another parent who needs this conversation. Connect with Gordon VanderLeekWebsite: vanderleeklaw.caDisability Advocacy Services: disabilityadvocates.ca·       https://facebook.com/vanderleeklaw·       https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanderleeklaw·       https://www.instagram.com/vanderleek_law/ Connect with [email protected] Acknowledgement: Audio Coffee - Denys KyshchukEditor: Scott ArbeauLink for book: The S.H.I.N.E. Principle: The special needs mom's path to strength, hope and happiness by Valerie Arbeauhttps://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CW18ZXGX (Canada)https://a.co/d/03hFdZI4 (United States)Learn more about your host at:https://coachingwithvalerieanne.com/