Wills & Estates

We promise you no stress during the process of creating your Wills and Powers of Attorney

We're here to make sure that your family gets to enjoy what you’ve worked for by creating an ironclad Will. It is important to seek advice from a lawyer who can help structure and draft your Will in a way that is legally recognized. There are numerous pitfalls to avoid when planning the future of your estate, which is why we are here to ensure that every penny you’ve earned ends up where you intended. 

It is unbearable for most people to think that their deaths may result in a complicated legal battle later in life, so it is important to be careful with every element of your estate plans.

Our team is here to make a difficult time a little easier

One of the most common questions we get asked is, why do I need a Will? Having your Will in place can help prevent disputes from arising between your family members and loved ones. It’s a way to ensure that your wishes are respected, and your estate is administered and distributed the way you want.

If you die without a Will in place, you will be considered to have died “intestate” and the Ontario Succession Law Reform Act will dictate who inherits your estate. This may be different from your wishes. For example, if you have a spouse and minor children, your spouse may not inherit your entire estate if you die without a Will.

With a Will you can elect your estate trustee (also known as executor) and your beneficiaries. You can control at what age a minor is to receive an inheritance and name who you would like to see appointed as guardian for any minor children. We offer the following wills & estates services:

1. Power of Attorney

2. Testamentary Trusts

3. Wills

Probate

Probate is the court procedure for proving the validity of a Will and appointing the estate trustee.

It involves an application to the court whereby they will review the Will and confirm that it satisfies all formal requirements. You will then receive back a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee with a Will.

If there is no Will there are certain steps to be taken and you will be trying to obtain a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee Without a Will.

We're here to HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROBATE PROCESS

Most financial institutions and agencies will not transfer property or frozen assets from the estate of the deceased until the estate trustee receives the Certificate of Appointment from the court. In certain situations you will also need the Certificate to deal with any real property that was in the deceased’s name.

In addition to the court application you must submit probate fees that are to be made payable to the Minister of Finance. These fees are based upon the value of the estate from certain assets. Let us help make the probate process as easy as possible. We offer the following probate services to our clients:

1. Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee With A Will

2. Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee Without A Will

3. Consultations with Estate Trustee (Executor) to review a Will