Business Succession

Estate Planning in Ontario: Why Having a Will and Power of Attorney Matters More Than Ever

In today’s fast-paced and uncertain world, planning for the future isn’t just smart — it’s essential. Whether you’re just starting to build wealth, growing your family,...

The Role of Estate Planning in Protecting Family Businesses

Family businesses are the backbone of many economies, providing financial stability and long-term wealth for generations. However, without proper estate planning, these businesses can face significant...

Business Succession Planning Checklist

As an entrepreneur, you are immensely proud of your business. In fact, you probably spend a lot of time planning how you will help your business...

Creating an Estate Plan for 2021

The arrival of a New Year is the time that many of us like to make resolutions. And while that usually means thinking about things that...

ESTATE LITIGATION: Challenging the validity of a Will prior to probate

When someone seeks to overturn the last will and testament of a deceased, the process is known as challenging a will. Usually, the common grounds for...

ESTATE ADMINISTRATION: Advising the Surviving Spouse

The precise nature of the executor/trustee/personal representative’s obligation to advise the surviving spouse is not clear. If the estate trustee is responsible only to the estate...

ESTATES & EQUALIZATION: How the Courts can enforce your Family Law rights

Court OrdersThe court has extensive powers to enforce the equalization order, Family Law Act (FLA) section 9. It can order:Money to be paid;Security to be given;Payment...

ESTATES & INTESTACY: Spousal statutory rights when there is no Will

Continuing the discussion of the effects of a Family Law election on various aspects of estate administration; its effect on intestacy is now reviewed.Effect on IntestacyIn...

ESTATES & EQUALIZATION: Spouses electing their Family Law rights and the consequences thereof

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for the surviving spouse to establish his or her entitlement to insurance proceeds and to survivorship benefits...

ESTATES & EQUALIZATION: How can a spouse elect his/her family law rights over a Will

The Equalization ClaimA right for the surviving spouse to make an equalization claim under the Family Law Act (“FLA”), subsection 70(1)(b), is possible only due to...