Secure Your Legacy: Expert Wills and Estate Law Services

Custom Will Drafting: Expert drafting and execution of your Last Will and Testament, ensuring your assets are distributed exactly as you intend to your specific beneficiaries.

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

Guardianship for Minors: Providing comprehensive planning to appoint guardians for minor children, ensuring their care and custody is determined by you, not the courts.

Structuring Gifts and Legacies: Structuring specific gifts, legacies, and charitable donations to minimize tax impact and ensure smooth transfer of ownership.

Minimizing Probate Fees: Strategically structuring your Will and beneficiary designations to reduce or avoid potential probate fees (Estate Administration Tax).

Avoiding Intestacy: Ensuring 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.

Will Review & Updates: Reviewing existing Wills to confirm validity and ensure they reflect current family situations, asset portfolios, and legal compliance.

Continuing Power of Attorney for Property (CPOA): Drafting a legal document that gives a trusted individual (your Attorney for Property) the power to manage your financial affairs, assets, and real estate if you become mentally incapable.
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.
Immediate vs. Springing POA: Advising on whether your POA should be effective immediately or only become "springing" (effective only upon a medical finding of incapacity).
Preventing Court Intervention (Guardianship): Proper drafting ensures your loved ones do not have to go through the costly and time-consuming process of applying to the court for Guardianship of Property or Person.
Clarity on Decision-Makers: Clearly outlining the scope, limitations, and the process for appointing alternate attorneys to manage potential conflicts or incapacity succession.
Health Care Directives (Living Wills): Integrating your wishes regarding end-of-life care and medical treatment into your Power of Attorney for Personal Care.

 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.

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.

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.

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),

Trustee Support: Offering continuous support and advice to the Estate Trustee throughout the often complex and time-consuming process, 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.

Estate Trustee Disputes: Handling disputes involving Estate Trustees (Executors), 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.

Passing of Accounts Litigation: Litigating disputes over the Estate Trustee's accounts to ensure beneficiaries receive a transparent and fair accounting of the administration of the estate.

Interpretation of Wills: Seeking court direction to interpret ambiguous or unclear clauses within a Will that are leading to disagreement among beneficiaries.

Mediation & Settlement: Providing skilled representation in negotiation and mediation to resolve estate disputes efficiently and privately, avoiding costly, prolonged courtroom battles where possible.

Trust Disputes: Addressing disputes related to the creation, administration, and distribution of assets within testamentary or inter vivos trusts.