Canada: Wills/ Intestacy/ Estate Planning

These concerns are frequently shared by clients when preparing trusts under their Wills (which come into existence following their death) or when establishing a family trust (which are created during the client's lifetime).

Dealing with estates involves more than Wills, probate and distribution. It also includes the emotional challenges families face in coping with loss, especially in sudden deaths.

Estate planners (and litigators) often encounter families who have made informal verbal agreements about how assets are to be dealt with on death. While oral agreements may seem convenient and cost-effective at the time they are made, they all-too-frequently lead to disputes down the road