Estate Planning Law

Estate planning involves more than simply preparing a will. Taking the time to determine how your affairs should be managed after you’re gone provides greater clarity for family members, beneficiaries, business partners and executors.

At Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l., we support clients with wills, powers of attorney, trusts, business succession planning, charitable giving and end-of-life or funeral planning across Ottawa and the National Capital Region. We help develop a tailored estate plan based on your assets, family circumstances, responsibilities, and objectives, giving you peace of mind for the future. 

Estate Planning and Administration Services

Our lawyers work together across practice areas to provide complete estate plans, including wills, powers of attorney, trusts, business succession planning, charitable giving, and executor services.

Wills and Estate Planning

A will provides instructions for distributing your estate after your death. Our dedicated team takes the time to discuss your needs, ensuring your will represents your wishes and that no challenges will arise in fulfilling it. We can then help coordinate your will with beneficiary designations, ownership arrangements and other components of your overall estate plan.

Powers of Attorney and Incapacity Planning

In cases of physical or mental incapacitation, powers of attorney allow you to choose trusted individuals to make decisions for you if needed. We assist clients with powers of attorney for property and financial matters as well as personal care. As you choose trustworthy attorneys, we offer support and guidance on how their role fits into your broader estate plan.

Trusts and Asset Protection

Depending on your family, financial or succession objectives, you may want to consider setting up a trust. We can help assess your legal, tax and administrative needs and recommend asset management if it makes sense. Often used for family wealth and intergenerational planning, trusts can also help with specific planning objectives and tax savings.

Business Succession Planning

Business owners should coordinate their personal estate plans with their corporate arrangements to properly plan for ownership and management transitions. Our team of experts at Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l. can help you set a detailed, informed plan for your business after you’ve passed.

Charitable Giving and Foundations

Incorporating charitable objectives into an estate plan ensures your money goes where you believe it should. We help organize charitable gifts through your will or other appropriate structures by coordinating with the proper legal and tax advice. 

Estate Administration and Executor Support

At Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l., we provide estate administration and executor support to ensure your will and final wishes are carried out as intended. By planning your estate in advance, your executor will know exactly what to do.

For executors, we can help interpret wills and trusts and coordinate litigation lawyers if issues arise.

When Should You Create or Update an Estate Plan?

We recognize that estate planning is an ongoing process. We’re here to help as circumstances change. Common reasons for updating an estate plan include:

• Marriage, separation or divorce
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Death or incapacity of a beneficiary, executor or attorney
• Significant changes in assets or liabilities
• Buying or selling significant property
• Starting, purchasing or selling a business
• Changes to business ownership
• Retirement
• Relocation or acquiring assets in another jurisdiction
• Changes in charitable or family objectives

Estate Planning for Business Owners and Complex Estates

If you’re a business owner, you may need to coordinate personal estate planning with corporate and succession planning as they can affect one another. We can also review your estate plan with the appropriate legal and tax advice depending on your circumstances.

For complex estates that may include shareholder agreements, real estate, or blended families, our team of experts can guide you through an estate plan that covers all your assets.

A Coordinated Approach to Estate Planning

At Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l., we consider wills, powers of attorney, trusts and ownership arrangements together, drawing on lawyer experience across our practice when needed. This can be particularly helpful for business owners, families with complex assets or clients whose circumstances change over time.

While no two estates are exactly alike, we tailor our approach to cover all facets of your estate now, in the future, and after your passing. Here are some of the main areas we focus on as your  estate planning lawyers in Ottawa:

• Prepare and review your will.
• Prepare and review powers of attorney for property and personal care.
• Confirm your choice of estate executor and substitute decision-makers.
• Review beneficiary designations on registered plans, insurance policies and other applicable accounts.
• Consider how jointly owned property fits into your overall plan, if applicable.
• Identify business interests and succession arrangements, if applicable.
• Consider whether trusts may be appropriate for particular beneficiaries.
• Review charitable intentions.
• Keep important information about assets, liabilities and key documents organized.
• Revisit your plan following significant changes in your family, finances, property or business.

Speak With an Estate Planning Lawyer in Ottawa

Every estate plan is unique and should reflect your individual family circumstances, assets, responsibilities and objectives. We can help you identify key priorities, highlight relevant issues, understand available options and put the proper arrangements in place to give you greater clarity and peace of mind.

Contact us at Perley-Robertson, Hill and MacDougall to speak with an Ottawa estate planning lawyer about your estate plan.