Preserve Your Wealth. Protect Your Family.
Comprehensive Estate Planning, Trust Creation, and Probate Administration
The Foundation of a Secure Future
Wills & Powers of Attorney
Primary Wills
A legally binding document ensuring your assets are distributed according to your exact wishes. We draft clear clauses to minimize disputes and appoint guardians for minor children.
Powers of Attorney (Property)
Appoint a trusted person to manage your financial affairs (banking, real estate, bills) if you are travelling or become mentally incapacitated.
Powers of Attorney (Personal Care)
Designate a substitute decision-maker for your health, medical treatment, and housing decisions if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Corporate & Secondary Wills
Maximize Tax Savings for Business Owners
If you own shares in a private Ontario corporation, a standard Will is not enough.
We draft Secondary Wills (often called Corporate Wills) to separate your private company shares from your personal assets. This strategy allows your business assets to bypass the probate process, potentially saving your estate the 1.5% Estate Administration Tax on the value of your company.
Trust Structures for Wealth Preservation
Standard wills are often insufficient for business owners. We use advanced legal structures to minimize Probate Fees and protect assets.
Income Splitting & Asset Protection
A Family Trust is a powerful tool for business owners and high-net-worth families. We structure these into:
Multiply Capital Gains Exemptions: Potentially saving significantly on taxes when selling a business.
Income Splitting: Distributing dividends to family members in lower tax brackets (subject to TOSI rules).
Liability Protection: Shielding accumulated wealth from future creditors.
Trusts Created During Your Lifetime
An Inter Vivos (‘among the living’) trust is established immediately upon signing. It is distinct from your Will.
Cottage Succession: Transferring a family vacation home to the next generation while defining usage rules.
Care for Disabled Relatives: Managing funds for a dependent without affecting their government disability benefits (ODSP).
Privacy: Assets in these trusts do not pass through probate, keeping them off the public record.
Trusts Created Inside Your Will
These trusts do not exist until after you pass away. We write these clauses into your Will to control how beneficiaries receive their money.
Age-Staged Payouts: Ensuring children receive their inheritance in stages (e.g., at 21, 25, and 30) rather than a lump sum at 18.
Spousal Trusts: Providing income for a surviving spouse for their lifetime, while ensuring the remaining capital passes to your children (essential for blended families).
Estate Administration
Guiding Executors through the complexities of the court system.
Losing a loved one is difficult. If you have been named an Estate Trustee (Executor), we guide you through the complex Probate (Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee) process. We assist with:
Preparing court applications
Calculating Estate Administration Tax
Advising on executor duties and liability
How We Draft Your Estate Plan
A simple, transparent process from start to finish
The Discovery
We review your family dynamics, assets, and corporate holdings to identify tax-saving opportunities.
The Draft
We draft your documents precisely. We send them to you for review to ensure every name and bequest is exactly as you intended.
The Execution
We meet to sign the documents in the presence of two witnesses, ensuring all formal legal requirements of the Succession Law Reform Act are met.
FAQs
If your private corporation has significant value, the cost of a Secondary Will is usually a tiny fraction of the Probate Tax you will save. It is one of the best ROI legal strategies available.
You are considered “intestate.” The government decides how your assets are divided based on a strict formula, which often does not match your wishes and can leave common-law partners with nothing.
We recommend reviewing it every 3-5 years, or immediately after major life events (marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or starting a business).
Schedule a Consultation
Please use the inquiry form to request an appointment or inquire about our services. We aim to respond to all inquiries within one business day.