WILLS, ESTATES & TRUSTS
At Gillespie Legal, we understand that planning for the future is one of the most thoughtful and important steps you can take for yourself and your loved ones. Our Toronto-based law office offers a full range of services to guide you through the complexities of wills, estates, and trusts, tailored to your unique needs.
Estate Planning Solutions
We are dedicated to offering personalized estate planning solutions designed to meet your individual objectives, safeguard your legacy, and provide for your family’s future. We frequently provide the following services:
Wills: We specialize in creating custom wills that carefully address asset distribution, guardianship of minor children, funeral plans, and other important matters.
Powers of Attorney: We prepare Powers of Attorney for both Property and Personal Care, ensuring that your financial and personal decisions are handled by someone you trust if you are unable to make them yourself.
Health Care Directives: We help you document your preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life care, ensuring that your wishes are respected and followed if you are unable to communicate them yourself.
Probate Fee Minimization: We structure your estate plan to minimize probate fees, helping to reduce costs and maximize the value passed on to your beneficiaries.
Cottage Succession Planning: We assist families in preserving cottage properties for future generations, ensuring a smooth transfer of ownership and continued enjoyment for years to come.
Family Trusts: We create family trusts to safeguard your wealth, provide for beneficiaries, and ensure effective management and distribution of assets according to your wishes.
Henson Trusts: We provide trust-based solutions for family members with disabilities, ensuring they are supported without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
Probate & Estate Administration Support
Managing an estate can be complex, but we are committed to providing compassionate and efficient support. Some of our estate administration services include:
Probate Applications: We guide you through the probate process, help validate the will, ensure all necessary documents are filed, and secure court approval for the administration of the estate.
Survivorship applications: We assist with survivorship applications to transfer ownership of jointly owned assets, ensuring the deceased’s share is properly transferred to any surviving co-owner(s).
Debt Settlement: We help identify and settle any outstanding debts owed by the deceased, ensuring creditors are satisfied before assets are distributed to beneficiaries.
Estate Tax & Final Returns : We assist with preparing and filing the deceased’s final income tax returns and provide guidance to beneficiaries on any inheritance or estate-related taxes owed.
Estate Trustee/Executor Support: We offer comprehensive support to estate trustees and executors, helping them navigate their legal responsibilities and manage estate administration efficiently and in accordance with the law.
Guardianship Matters: We assist in appointing a guardian for minor children or vulnerable adults, or represent clients contesting the appointment of a guardian in the event of a dispute.
Passing of Accounts: We prepare and present the financial records of an estate for court approval, ensuring transparency and compliance with legal requirements during the estate administration process.
Will Challenges: We provide legal representation in disputes over the validity of a will, including matters of undue influence, lack of capacity, or improper execution of the will or related documents.
Planning and administering an estate doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you need help crafting an estate plan or navigating the administration process, we are here to provide clear and reliable guidance every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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