Our skilled practitioners have extensive experience:

• drafting sophisticated wills, powers of attorney, living wills, family trusts and alter ego trusts
• designing and implementing succession plans that facilitate a smooth transition of family business assets to the next generation
• advising on and drafting shareholders’ and partnership agreements;
• resolving family disputes
• structuring estate plans that minimize income tax and probate tax arising on death
• implementing estate freezes
• drafting domestic agreements, including cohabitation and marriage contracts
• creating charitable corporations and trusts for philanthropic purposes
• advising on charitable giving

Estate Administration
We manage all phases of estate administration with expertise and sensitivity:

• acting as estate trustees
• ascertaining the assets of the deceased
• discharging liabilities and paying necessary taxes
• structuring, when appropriate, post-mortem planning to minimize taxes and maximize returns to the estate and its beneficiaries
• dealing with financial institutions
• distributing property to beneficiaries
• applying to the court for the Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee

Charities and Not-for-Profits
As long-time legal advisors to numerous local and national charities, we have expertise in:

• establishing and incorporating charitable trusts and corporations, both provincially and federally, whether as private family foundations or public institutions
• advising on planned giving, on behalf of both institutions and clients who have made significant donations to charitable and educational institutions in Canada and throughout the world
• making submissions to governmental authorities on behalf of charities
• representing clients who designate cultural gifts to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board

Counsel to Professional Advisors
We provide comprehensive estate and succession planning support to other professionals to help them assist their own clients. Our professional clientele include:

• accounting firms
• boutique law firms focused on family, immigration and criminal law
• insurance and financial planners