Blog
Celebrating
our 10th year
blog anniversary
Blog
Toronto Ontario Estate Law Blog
Canada-U.S. Cross-Border Giving Considerations
For clients with ties to both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, thoughtfully structuring charitable gifts can enhance tax efficiency and maximize a person’s legacy. It is not uncommon for a Canadian to have ties to the U.S. through work, family, education, property, travel or otherwise. The same applies for U.S.
When “No Contest” Means No Inheritance: No-Contest Clauses in Ontario Wills
In our recent blog, An Estate Lawyer’s Guide to the Estate Litigation Galaxy, we discussed will challenges and raised that on the planning side, lawyers may consider including a no-contest clause in a Will as a deterrent to potential litigation. In today’s blog, I will be highlighting the use of
Cultural Taboos, Aging Parents and Keeping Estate Plans Updated: A Step-by-Step Action Plan
With increasing longevity comes a host of challenging issues. One of them is maintaining an up-to-date estate plan. Do Your Parents Have an Up-To-Date Estate Plan? Adult children are now more than ever challenged by their concern that their aging parents may not have an up-to-date estate plan, or even
AI and the Future of Estate Planning: Will Estate Lawyers Become Obsolete?
With the rapid progress of artificial intelligence in the legal field, we often hear the same question arise again and again: will AI replace the need for estate planning lawyers? It’s a fair question, now that legal tech is able to draft a variety of documents, conduct legal research, and
An Estate Lawyer’s Guide to the Estate Litigation Galaxy
As estate planning lawyers, we constantly orbit the estate litigation galaxy, navigating to keep our clients’ estates from being pulled into the Black Hole of court. This blog is a guide for both estate planning lawyers and their clients to stay in “safe orbit” and navigate smartly around some of
Canadian Citizenship by Descent: Canada Expands Eligibility Under Bill C-3
Many people may be surprised and pleased to learn that there is a new path to becoming a Canadian citizen. The Government of Canada passed Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025), on December 15, 2025. Before this legislation came into effect, Canadian citizenship by descent was
The 6 Myths of Appointing Guardians for Your Minor Children if You Die
People often put off preparing their Wills for many reasons. What often brings about a mindset shift is the birth of a child. Suddenly, parents start asking questions they may not have considered before: What happens if I die? Who will take care of my child if my child is
When is a Gift Not a Gift: Estate Freezes and Family Law Considerations
The Intersection of Trust Law and Family Law A complex and challenging area of law is the intersection of trust law and family law. Ontario law, in contrast to many other common law jurisdictions, has given liberal treatment of a discretionary interest in a trust as property which can be
A Clash of Loyalties: Executor Conflicts of Interests
Choosing an executor is one of the most consequential decisions in estate planning. An executor is a fiduciary required to act honestly, impartially, and in the best interests of the estate over their own. Where an executor’s personal obligations, financial interests, or relationships conflict with these duties, these conflicts of
The Tale of Spouses and the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) Conundrum
The Scenario John and Jane each purchase a real property in Ontario in 2003, to which they take title in their names alone. John purchases a residential property for $2,000,000 (“John’s Property”) and Jane purchases a cottage property for $1,000,000 (“Jane’s Property”). In 2006, John and Jane become common law
Download our “Passing Wealth Well” e-brochure
Learn more about:
- Estate planning for High Net Worth
- Cross-border and multijurisdictional matters
- Incapacity planning
- Representative mandates from clients
- And more…