Estate planning

Wills, Trusts, POAs and more.

Estate planning includes the process of thinking about how you want your property to be dealt with after you die or if you become incapacitated and then taking steps now to ensure your intentions will be followed. Estate planning also involves thinking about how you may structure your affairs now to achieve objectives during your lifetime such as tax efficient wealth distribution among family members and creditor protection. You should also recognize the possibility that a person can become legally incompetent as a result of an unexpected incapacitation, such as suffering severe injuries from a sudden accident, and therefore advance planning with tools such a power of attorney may be prudent.

Some of the things we do for our clients:

Assist to build a client’s comprehensive estate plan.
Review an existing estate plan and making recommendations.
Prepare wills from the simple to the complex.
Draft testamentary trusts directly into a will where appropriate.
Integrate estate planning with family business succession planning as applicable.
Prepare powers of attorneys for any specific purpose, enduring or otherwise.
Create family trust agreements for a variety of business and estate planning objectives.
Create other inter-vivos trust agreements specific for various purposes such as creditor protection trusts, joint partner trusts, alter ego trusts, etc.
Advise on Canadian income tax implications of wills.
Advise on Canadian income tax implications of trusts including setup and ongoing use.
Assist to update and modify your estate plan.
Assist to open probate and advise on all matters under the probate process.
Assist with any aspect of the administration of an estate.
Represent clients in an estate matter.

See our other service areas – Business acquisition and sales, Corporate law, Family business succession, Tax planning and dispute advice.