WILLS AND ESTATE PLANNING LAW

We offer estate planning solutions to a wide range of clients.

For young families, we craft estate planning solutions which allow parents to secure their children’s financial future, and provide for the guardianship of their minor children in the event of the death of both parents.

For individuals in second relationships or marriages, we offer solutions where one can provide for their new partner, their children, all while protecting their estate from their former partner, or spouse.

We also offer estate planning solutions to small to medium sized businesses, and high net worth individuals. Such solutions include strategies to minimize the impact of the death of a partner or shareholder on a client’s business, or advising clients with regards to income and capital gains tax minimization, or deferral of taxes through the use of trusts and other asset protection structures, such as estate freezes.

In order to ensure that our clients receive the best possible estate planning advice, we work in close association with a team consisting of accountants, financial planners, and insurance professionals.

We provide the following services:

WILLS

Ensure that your loved ones inherit your estate
Prevent the courts from determining who will be a beneficiary
Determine who will be your minor children’s guardian(s)
Prevent your former spouse from making a claim against your estate
Plan to ensure sufficient funds are available to satisfy your child and spousal support obligations
Prevent dependant’s claims by existing, or alleged dependants
Reduce the risk of a testamentary challenge, or bitter family disputes after you are gone
Ensure the seamless transfer of your business interests

TRUSTS (Inter Vivos and Testamentary Trusts)

Establish trusts to ensure your children’s financial security after you are gone
Prevent spendthrift beneficiaries from depleting their inheritance
Minimize income taxes by income splitting
Defer the payment of capital gains on your assets until the death of your spouse
Maximize what your loved ones will receive by minimizing probate fees, capital gains and income taxes after your death
Avoid lengthy delays in the distribution of your estate by avoiding the probate process, and the related taxes
Ensure the privacy of your financial affairs by avoiding the public probate process
Avoid executors fees, which can be as much as 5% of the value of your estate

POWER OF ATTORNEYS & LIVING WILLS

In the event of your incapacity, give a trusted one the power to handle your financial affairs
Grant a trusted one the power to make medical, and health related decisions on your behalf
Instruct your attorney and medical practitioners relating to the artificial extension of your life

COHABITATION AGREEMENTS, AND MARRIAGE CONTRACTS

Ensure your children’s inheritance is not compromised by your second relationship
Protect your children’s inheritance from division of property, and spousal support claims
Protect your business
Prevent the property division provisions of applicability of the Family Law Act, the Divorce Act and the Child Support Guidelines
Protect business interests from division of property, and spousal support claims resulting from separation

MORTGAGES AND ASSET TRANSFERS

Protect the equity in your home by giving your new spouse a demand mortgage
Protect the equity in your home by having your new spouse purchase a 50% interest
Consider holding title by way of tenants in common rather than joint tenancy
Consider placing certain assets in joint names in order to avoid probate