Canada: Wills/ Intestacy/ Estate Planning

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Welcome to the Mondaq Family and Matrimonial homepage, here you will find thought leadership articles, podcasts, videos and webinars providing insights covering topics such as Divorce, Family Law, Wills and Estate Planning.

A Wills And Estates Lesson From Downton Abbey

I've recently become a big fan of the British drama Downton Abbey which ran for six series (or ‘seasons' for us North American folk) from 2010 to 2015, plus five Christmas specials and three feature films.

CM

Casey & Moss LLP

From Execution To Distribution: Lessons From The BC Court Of Appeal On Will Validity And Vesting

Two recent decisions from the British Columbia Court of Appeal, Kroeger v. Bush Estate, 2026 BCCA 16, and Lewis v. Jack, 2026 BCCA 18, provide timely guidance on two recurring...

CO

Cozen O'Connor

U.S. Estate Tax Planning For Canadians Under The One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings major changes to the U.S. tax system and some of those changes create important estate planning opportunities for Canadians who own property or investments in the United States.

A

Altro LLP

Que faut-il pour exprimer une intention testamentaire ferme et définitive? Leçons tirées de l'affaire Paige v Noel, 2025 BCCA 358 (« Paige »)

Un message texte envoyé par un testateur peut-il modifier un testament? Dans Paige, la Cour d'appel de la Colombie-Britannique...

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

Is There Such A Thing As TMI? What, With Whom, And When Should A Trustee Share Information?

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Gardiner Roberts LLP

Proactive Ways To Assist Your Family With Estate Matters

CM

Casey & Moss LLP

The Weight Of Words: Oral Agreements In Estate Planning

CW

Clark Wilson LLP

What Is Required To Express A Fixed And Final Testamentary Intention? Lessons From Paige v Noel, 2025 BCCA 358

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

Powers Of Appointment: How They Work And Their Benefits

OE

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

Managing A Loved One's Estate? Understanding The Role Of A Personal Representative

MR

McLennan Ross LLP

Family Property Disputes In Canada: Why Process Selection Matters

CO

Cozen O'Connor

3 Good Housekeeping Tips For Your Will And Supporting Documents

OE

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

How To Reduce Double Taxation On An Estate Through The Loss Carryback Strategy: Intelligence From A Canadian Tax Lawyer

RS

Rotfleisch & Samulovitch P.C.

When Is Probate Required In Ontario? (Video)

DS

Devry Smith Frank LLP

Refusal To Hire Due To A Criminal Record: Who Bears The Liability?

Canada Employment

F

Fasken

New Saskatchewan Employment Standards Regulations Set To Come Into Force January 1, 2026

Canada Employment

MA

MLT Aikins LLP

11 Tax Changes To The Income Tax Act (ITA) In 2026 And Beyond That Canadian Taxpayers, Canadian Businesses Need To Know About

RS

Rotfleisch & Samulovitch P.C.

Sneaky Trusts: The Legal Plot Twist With Gratuitous Property Transfers

Canada Real Estate

AH

Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP

Canada's 2025 Federal Budget: Critical Changes To Cryptocurrency Taxation Investors, Traders, And Miners Need To Know

RS

Rotfleisch & Samulovitch P.C.

Avertissement aux entreprises familiales à actionnariat restreint : leçons essentielles pour les propriétaires et les actionnaires

En Ontario, la gestion d'une entreprise familiale détenue par un cercle restreint d'actionnaires repose souvent sur la confiance, des ententes informelles...

Canada Commercial

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

The Power Of Two: Dual Wills In BC

While a single will can be the most suitable estate planning tool for many will-makers, estate planning has evolved beyond the simple "one-will-per-person" paradigm.

AH

Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP

Sneaky Trusts: The Legal Plot Twist With Gratuitous Property Transfers

It is increasingly common for families to make financial decisions aimed at minimizing probate fees and income tax. However, these arrangements can have unexpected legal consequences.

Canada Real Estate

AH

Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP

Happy New Year: U.S. Estate Tax Reform And The Impact Of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act On Canadians

In our blog just under a year ago of January 29, 2025, we speculated on what to expect for U.S. estate tax under a second Trump administration.

Worldwide Family

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O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

Will vs Power Of Attorney In Ontario: Why You Need Both (Video)

DS

Devry Smith Frank LLP

Court Of Appeal Summaries (December 15 – 19, 2025)

Worldwide Litigation

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Blaney McMurtry LLP

How New Assets Are Handled In Your Will (Video)

DS

Devry Smith Frank LLP

Estate Essentials: What Is Probate And Why Should You Know About It?

WL

WeirFoulds LLP

Dependant's Relief Claims: A Tug-of-War Between Testamentary Freedom And Familial Obligation

OE

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

Ontario Court Rejects Validity Of $83-million Purported Will

FR

Fillmore Riley

Litiges successoraux impliquant des enfants : les règles juridiques cachées que les parents ignorent souvent

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

Points clés à retenir du Séminaire annuel 2025 sur les régimes de retraite et les avantages sociaux

Canada Employment

MT

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Estate Planning: When Health Practitioners Should Consider A Professional Will

MA

MLT Aikins LLP

Continuing Powers Of Attorney For Property - Do's And Don'ts

OE

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

Litiges successoraux impliquant des enfants : les règles juridiques cachées que les parents ignorent souvent

Dans bien des cas, les litiges successoraux mettent en cause les droits des enfants, et il arrive souvent qu'un mandataire spécial doive intervenir pour représenter...

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

Points clés à retenir du Séminaire annuel 2025 sur les régimes de retraite et les avantages sociaux

Le 15e Séminaire annuel sur les régimes de retraite et les avantages sociaux, qui s'est tenu le 22 octobre 2025...

Canada Employment

MT

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Estate Planning: When Health Practitioners Should Consider A Professional Will

When health professionals in Manitoba think about estate planning, the conversation usually revolves around a personal will, power of attorney and health care directive.

MA

MLT Aikins LLP

Continuing Powers Of Attorney For Property - Do's And Don'ts

A continuing power of attorney for property is an estate planning tool that enables a person (i.e., the attorney) to step into the shoes of the grantor when the grantor becomes mentally incapable...

OE

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

Estate Disputes Involving Children: The Hidden Legal Rules Parents Often Miss

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

Seven Essential Steps For Estate Administration Across Canada – Guidance From An Experienced Canadian Tax Lawyer

When an individual dies, all property, assets, and interests left behind constitute the estate. Estates may include bank accounts, investments, real property, business shares, personal possessions, cryptocurrency or NFTs, and other holdings.

RS

Rotfleisch & Samulovitch P.C.

Protecting Your Wealth Before The Holidays: Why High Net Worth Couples Should Consider A Marriage Or Cohabitation Agreement

The holiday season is a time of celebration, reflection, and new beginnings. Between November and New Year's Eve, engagements and cohabitation announcements are at their peak.

L

Linmac

Revocation Miscalculations - Beneficiary Designation Edition

My blog of July 8, 2025 touched on a few cases where the courts had to step in because beneficiary designations for registered plans weren't drafted or updated properly.

OE

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

Unsubstantiated Allegations In Estate Disputes: The Perils Of Malacek v. Young (2021 BCSC 2219)

Estate disputes aren't just about money. They often involve deep emotions, family history, and unresolved conflict. But when accusations are made without...

WG

Watson Goepel LLP

Estate Essentials: Who Should Administer Your Estate?

WL

WeirFoulds LLP

The Digital Draft Dilemma: Is Your Estate Plan Vulnerable To A Single Unprinted File?

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

When There Is No Will, There Is Still A Way: How To Identify Heirs In Ontario

PV

Pallett Valo LLP

Five Types Of Decision-making Capacity Every Legal, Financial, And Medical Professional Should Know

MT

Miller Thomson LLP

The Ambivalent Role Of Financial Institutions In The Early Stages Of Estate Litigation

CM

Casey & Moss LLP

November Is Make A Will Month In Canada

LL

Lerners LLP

Make A Will Week: It's Time To Plan Ahead

WG

Watson Goepel LLP

The 99th Year Anniversary Of The Great Stork Derby Contest

DS

Devry Smith Frank LLP

Finality Over Fairness: Tessaro v. Gora, 2025 ONSC 198, A Cautionary Tale In Will Drafting And Limitation Periods

LL

Lerners LLP

The 7 Steps Of Estate Administration In Canada – Guidance From A Canadian Tax Lawyer

RS

Rotfleisch & Samulovitch P.C.

You Decide: Advance Requests And Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID)

OE

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

Blogs Begetting Blogs: An Update On Marriage Revoking A Will

CM

Casey & Moss LLP

Commonly Asked Questions By Potential Clients Regarding Estates And Wills

CM

Casey & Moss LLP

Dying Without A Will (Intestate)

ML

McKercher LLP

Estate Essentials: Rule Change — The Rules For Appointing Litigation Guardians Receive An Update

WL

WeirFoulds LLP

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Latest Videos

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Will vs Power Of Attorney In Ontario: Why You Need Both (Video)

DS

Devry Smith Frank LLP

Why You Should Have A Will: Three Reasons To Plan Ahead (Video)

PM

Parlee McLaws

Cautionary Tales In Estate Litigation In BC: What Every Family Should Know Before It's Too Late (Video)

FH

FH&P Lawyers

BTC Series: What Happens If You Pass Away Without A Will? (Video)

WG

Watson Goepel LLP

Hot Topics In Estate Planning (Video)

TM

Torkin Manes LLP

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