Protect what you've built. Our estate planning services in Canada and the US cover everything from wills and powers of attorney to trust structures, estate tax minimization, and full probate administration — ensuring your wealth passes to the right people, with the least tax burden possible.
Four interconnected disciplines — estate planning documents, trust structures, estate tax strategy, and probate administration — delivered as one seamless service.
Drafting and reviewing last wills that clearly direct asset distribution, name executors, and appoint guardians — the cornerstone of every estate plan in Canada and the US.
Establishing a continuing power of attorney for property so a trusted individual can manage your finances, investments, and real estate if you become incapacitated.
Appointing an attorney for personal care who can make healthcare and living arrangement decisions on your behalf — ensuring your wishes are respected in every scenario.
Using primary and secondary wills (the Granovsky strategy) to separate private company shares and personal effects from probatable assets — potentially saving thousands in estate tax in Canada.
Auditing and optimizing beneficiary designations on RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, and life insurance policies — ensuring assets bypass probate and reach your heirs faster.
Coordinating wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations across Canada and the US — ensuring your estate plan is recognized and enforceable in both jurisdictions.
Creating living trusts that transfer assets outside of your estate during your lifetime — reducing probate fees, providing creditor protection, and enabling controlled distributions to beneficiaries.
Establishing trusts within your will that activate upon death — providing income splitting opportunities, protecting inheritances for minor children, and managing distributions over time.
Strategic planning to reduce deemed disposition taxes, optimize spousal rollovers, leverage the principal residence exemption, and minimize the estate tax burden in Canada at the time of death.
Implementing proven strategies — beneficiary designations, joint ownership, multiple wills, and trust structures — to minimize provincial Estate Administration Tax on your estate.
Structuring registered account rollovers to surviving spouses or dependent children — avoiding the full income inclusion that can push estates into the highest marginal tax bracket.
Navigating US estate tax thresholds, gift tax provisions, and Canada-US Treaty situs rules for Canadian residents with US-situs assets — preventing double taxation across borders.
Preparing and filing the probate application with the Superior Court of Justice — obtaining the Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee so the executor gains legal authority over the estate.
Preparing and filing the Estate Information Return within the mandatory 180-day window — documenting every asset, from real estate to investment portfolios, to maintain compliance.
Filing the deceased's final income tax return (terminal return), elective returns where beneficial, and obtaining the CRA Clearance Certificate before distributing assets to beneficiaries.
Publishing formal Notice to Creditors and managing claims against the estate — protecting the executor from personal liability for undisclosed debts.
Managing the orderly sale of estate assets, settling liabilities, and distributing inheritances to beneficiaries according to the terms of the will or intestacy rules.
Preparing formal estate accounts for beneficiaries and the court — documenting every transaction, fee, and distribution to ensure full transparency and executor discharge.
Estate planning isn't one-size-fits-all. Here's why cross-border families choose T&F Corner to protect their legacy and navigate estate tax in Canada.
We understand how Canadian deemed disposition rules interact with US estate tax provisions — so your estate planning works seamlessly across borders without double taxation.
Because we also handle your tax filings and accounting, every estate planning decision is made with full awareness of the tax consequences — spousal rollovers, capital gains, and RRSP inclusion all factored in.
Wills, powers of attorney for property and personal care, trust agreements, and beneficiary designations — all prepared as a coordinated package, not isolated documents.
One professional who knows your family, your assets, and your goals — guiding you through estate planning decisions and supporting executors during probate administration.
Life changes — marriages, births, property purchases, business exits. We review and update your estate plan annually so it always reflects your current circumstances and goals.
A structured, step-by-step approach to building an estate plan that protects your family and minimizes estate tax in Canada and the US.
We map your complete financial picture — real estate, investments, registered accounts, business interests, life insurance, and assets in both jurisdictions — to understand what needs protection.
We calculate the deemed disposition exposure, projected probate fees, RRSP/RRIF income inclusion, and US estate tax implications — quantifying the cost of doing nothing.
We design your estate plan — wills, powers of attorney, trust structures, and beneficiary designations — all drafted and coordinated to minimize taxes and ensure smooth execution.
We assist with signing, witnessing, and registering all documents — plus updating beneficiary designations on registered accounts and insurance policies.
Annual reviews tied to life events and tax law changes — ensuring your estate plan stays current, optimized, and fully aligned with your evolving financial picture.
When the time comes, we guide executors through probate administration — court filings, terminal returns, creditor notices, asset distribution, and final discharge.
Canada does not impose a formal inheritance tax or estate tax. However, the CRA applies a deemed disposition rule — treating all assets as if they were sold at fair market value at the time of death. This triggers capital gains on appreciated investments, real estate (excluding the principal residence), and business interests.
On top of that, the full value of RRSPs and RRIFs is included as income on the terminal return — often pushing the estate into the highest marginal bracket. A $500,000 RRIF alone can generate over $250,000 in taxes.
Provincial probate fees add another layer. In Ontario, the Estate Administration Tax is approximately $15 per $1,000 of estate value above $50,000 — meaning a $2 million estate would owe roughly $29,250 in probate fees alone.
Effective estate planning can significantly reduce all three of these exposures. That's exactly what we do.
All capital property is deemed sold at fair market value. Capital gains inclusion rate is 50% on the first $250,000 of annual gains. Strategic use of spousal rollovers and the principal residence exemption can reduce or defer this tax significantly.
The entire value of registered accounts is added to the final tax return unless rolled over to a surviving spouse or financially dependent child. This "tax bomb" demands advance planning through beneficiary designations and spousal rollover structures.
Ontario charges 1.5% of estate value over $50,000. BC charges $14 per $1,000 over $50,000. Alberta and Quebec have much lower or flat fees. Multiple wills, beneficiary designations, joint tenancy, and trusts are proven strategies to reduce this cost.
Canadian residents with US-situs assets (US real estate, US stocks) may be subject to US estate tax. The Canada-US Tax Treaty provides relief, but only with proper planning. We coordinate both jurisdictions to prevent double taxation on cross-border estates.
Practical guidance to help you understand why estate planning matters — and how to avoid the most costly mistakes families make.
If you become incapacitated without powers of attorney in place, your family will need to apply to the court for guardianship — a slow, expensive, and emotionally draining process. Preparing powers of attorney for both property and personal care is one of the most important steps in estate planning, yet many Canadians skip it entirely.
Beneficiary designations on RRSPs, TFSAs, and life insurance override your will. If you've gone through a divorce, remarriage, or had a new child but never updated these designations, your assets may go to the wrong person — regardless of what your will says.
In Ontario, the Granovsky strategy lets business owners create a secondary will for assets that don't require probate — like private company shares. Only the primary will goes through probate, potentially saving 1.5% on the entire value of excluded assets. For a company worth $1 million, that's $15,000 saved.
The full value of your RRSP or RRIF is added to your final tax return at death. On a $500,000 RRIF, this can mean over $250,000 in taxes. Estate planning strategies — spousal rollovers, gradual drawdowns, and life insurance — can dramatically reduce this burden on your estate.
If you own US real estate, US stocks held directly, or US business interests, you may be exposed to US estate tax — even as a Canadian resident. The Canada-US Tax Treaty offers relief, but only when your estate plan is specifically structured to claim it.
Over half of Canadians don't have an estate plan. The cost of inaction isn't just financial — it means court-appointed administrators, family disputes, and assets distributed according to provincial intestacy rules instead of your wishes. Every major life event should trigger a review of your estate plan.
Don't see your question about estate planning, powers of attorney, or estate tax in Canada? We're happy to talk through your specific situation — just book a free call.
Ask Us AnythingWhether you need a complete estate plan from scratch, want to update existing wills and powers of attorney, or need help navigating probate as an executor — start with a free consultation today.
