Secure Your Legacy: Expert Wills and Estate Law Services

Custom Will Drafting: Our expert drafting and execution of your Last Will and Testament ensures your assets are distributed exactly as you intend to your specific beneficiaries, a crucial part of effective estate planning.

Estate Trustee Appointment: Clearly naming your Estate Trustee (Executor) is essential in the estate administration process, giving them the legal authority to manage your estate and fulfill your wishes after your passing.

Guardianship for Minors: We provide comprehensive planning to appoint guardians for minor children, ensuring their care and custody is determined by you, not the courts, which is vital for peace of mind in estate planning.

Structuring Gifts and Legacies: Our team structures specific gifts, legacies, and charitable donations to minimize tax impact and ensure smooth transfer of ownership while adhering to wills and estate law.

Minimizing Probate Fees: By strategically structuring your Will and beneficiary designations, we aim to reduce or avoid potential probate fees (Estate Administration Tax), making the estate administration process more efficient.

Avoiding Intestacy: We ensure you have a valid Will in place to prevent the costly and complicated situation of dying intestate (without a Will), where provincial laws dictate asset distribution, further emphasizing the importance of estate planning.

Will Review & Updates: Our services include reviewing existing Wills to confirm validity and ensure they reflect current family situations, asset portfolios, and legal compliance, which is essential for effective estate planning and adherence to wills and estate law.

Continuing Power of Attorney for Property (CPOA): Drafting a legal document that empowers a trusted individual (your Attorney for Property) to manage your financial affairs, assets, and real estate if you become mentally incapable, which is a crucial aspect of estate planning. 

Power of Attorney for Personal Care (POAPC): Appointing a reliable person (your Attorney for Personal Care) to make decisions regarding your medical treatment, housing, nutrition, and safety if you are unable to communicate your wishes, ensuring your preferences are honored in accordance with wills and estate law. 

Immediate vs. Springing POA: Advising on whether your power of attorney should be effective immediately or become

Probate Applications: Comprehensive legal guidance for the Estate Trustee (Executor) in applying for the Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee (Probate) from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, as part of our probate services. Estate Administration: Assisting the Estate Trustee with all administrative duties, including identifying and marshaling estate assets, managing and paying outstanding debts, and arranging necessary appraisals, all crucial aspects of effective estate administration. Asset Distribution: Overseeing the lawful distribution of the remaining estate assets to the beneficiaries as specified in the Will, ensuring all conditions and legal requirements are met in accordance with wills and estate law. Accounting to Beneficiaries: Preparing and presenting formal or informal Passing of Accounts to beneficiaries and the court, providing transparency on how the estate was managed. Tax Compliance: Coordinating with accountants to ensure all final tax returns are filed and tax clearance certificates are obtained before the final distribution of the estate. Intestacy Administration: Providing legal support for administering an estate where the deceased died intestate (without a Will), ensuring compliance with estate planning principles. Trustee Support: Offering continuous support and advice to the Estate Trustee throughout the often complex and time-consuming process, including guidance on powers of attorney, ensuring they meet their fiduciary obligations.

Challenging Will Validity: Legal representation for contesting a Will based on grounds such as undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, or improper execution and witnessing is essential in estate administration. 

Estate Trustee Disputes: Handling disputes involving Estate Trustees (Executors) is crucial in estate planning, including applications for their removal due to mismanagement, conflict of interest, or breach of fiduciary duty. 

Dependent Support Claims: Assisting eligible family members (dependents) who were unfairly excluded or inadequately provided for in a Will to make a claim for adequate provision and support is vital in ensuring fair distribution under wills and estate law. 

Passing of Accounts Litigation: Litigating disputes over the Estate Trustee's accounts is necessary to ensure beneficiaries receive a transparent and fair accounting of the administration of the estate, particularly regarding probate services. 

Interpretation of Wills: Seeking court direction to interpret ambiguous or unclear clauses within a Will that lead to disagreement among beneficiaries is an important aspect of estate planning. 

Mediation & Settlement: Providing skilled representation in negotiation and mediation is key to resolving estate disputes efficiently and privately, avoiding costly, prolonged courtroom battles where possible. This approach often aligns with effective estate administration strategies. 

Trust Disputes: Addressing disputes related to the creation, administration, and distribution of assets within testamentary or inter vivos trusts is a critical component of both estate planning and wills and estate law.