Wills & Estates Lawyers Barrie
Wills & Estates Lawyers are compassionate, understanding and caring
You know that will and estate planning is necessary in case something unwanted happens to you or your significant other. Perhaps you’ve seen this happen to someone you know and you would like to make sure your family is protected.
Having a properly constructed and up-to-date will ensures that it is you and not the government who decides where your assets go and what your wishes are for your young children. At CSL, our wills & estates lawyers put you and your family first and help you to avoid the difficulties of passing away without a will.
Your situation and your needs are unique – unlike anyone else. There is no one size fits all when it comes to Wills. We understand the emotions and feelings that are subject to making such critical decisions, we ask the right questions to make sure you have the right arrangement – one that covers your needs.
CSL offers you straightforward information from wills & estates lawyers who are compassionate, understanding and caring. When life changes – things can be confusing enough without talking to someone who uses complicated language. It’s important to understand what will happen when an event occurs that requires your Will.
- Simple Will - A straightforward document that sets out who inherits your assets, names an executor, and may appoint guardians for minor children.
- Mirror Wills - Common for married or common-law couples, these wills reflect each other—often leaving everything to the surviving spouse and then to children.
- Mutual (or Binding) Wills - A legally binding arrangement between two people (often spouses) where neither can change the will without the other’s consent.
- Trusts (used in estate planning) - Testamentary Trusts: Created in a will, takes effect after death, often to manage assets for minors or dependants.
- Living (Inter Vivos) Trusts: - Created while alive to hold and distribute assets, often for tax planning or probate avoidance.
- Codicil - A legal amendment to an existing will, used for small updates instead of rewriting the entire will.
- Secondary Wills (Dual Wills) - Useful for business owners or those with private corporation shares. One will covers assets requiring probate; the other covers assets that can pass outside probate, reducing estate administration tax.
- Living Will / Advance Directive - Specifies medical care preferences if you become incapable of making decisions. In Ontario, this is usually expressed as part of a Power of Attorney for Personal Care.
- Holograph Will - A handwritten will signed by the testator without witnesses. Legal in Ontario, but riskier because it can be challenged more easily.
- Notarial / Formal Will - Typed, signed in front of two witnesses, and the most common form of will in Ontario. Powers of Attorney (Estate Planning Tools) Power of Attorney for Property: Allows someone to manage your finances if you cannot. Power of Attorney for Personal Care: Appoints someone to make health and personal decisions if you are incapacitated.
- Estate Freezing / Tax Planning Tools - Structures (such as trusts or corporate reorganizations) used to minimize estate taxes and plan succession.
Support for Executors
Have you been appointed as an executor? We take the stress and confusion out of an emotional and often complicated role. Let us help you with our simple checklist to make sure you have all the knowledge you need to do the best job you can.
Estate Planning
Do you want to create a safety net that will make a difference to your family’s future? We will turn legal jargon into a wills and estates plan that will create a soft landing for the people who mean the most to you.
Our estate planning lawyers have the knowledge and necessary experience, along with our caring & compassionate approach, to help you shelter and protect your loved ones’ future. We will find the solution you want – just for you.
Powers of Attorney
If an event ever occurs (accident, aging, mental health and other unforeseen events) that causes you to find yourself lying in a hospital bed or in a facility where you are unable to tell people how you feel or the treatment you want, who is going to give instructions? What if your family is divided and your fate is in the hands of someone you are not confident in?
The truth is that once an unexpected accident or event happens, there is very little you can do to control your own fate.
Let our Power of Attorney solve the problem of who decides what happens to you when you can’t. We help people pre-empt uncertainty and lower the risk of an unexpected future by confidentially putting your wishes in writing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Real Estate Law in Ontario governs the purchase, sale, leasing, and use of residential and commercial property. It covers everything from drafting agreements of purchase and sale, to closing transactions, to resolving disputes over property rights and ownership.
Yes. Ontario allows multiple wills—most commonly a “primary will” and a “secondary will.” The primary will covers assets that must go through probate, while the secondary will deals with assets that can pass outside of probate (such as private company shares). Using dual wills is a common estate-planning strategy to reduce estate administration tax.
A holograph will, which is entirely handwritten and signed by you, is legally valid in Ontario even without witnesses. However, they are risky because unclear wording or missing details often lead to disputes in court. For peace of mind and to avoid challenges, most people use a lawyer-drafted will with proper witnessing.
No. Unlike legally married spouses, common-law partners do not have an automatic right to inherit under Ontario’s intestacy laws. If you want your common-law partner to receive assets, you must name them in a valid will. Without one, they may have to make a legal claim against your estate, which can be costly and uncertain.
In Ontario, a “living will” is an informal term for written instructions about your medical and personal care wishes if you become incapable. These directions are usually included in a Power of Attorney for Personal Care, which legally appoints someone to make those decisions on your behalf. Without this document, family members may disagree or need court approval to act.
Yes, and it’s becoming increasingly important. You can include provisions in your will or a separate memorandum dealing with digital assets, such as online accounts, cloud files, or cryptocurrency wallets. Giving your executor clear instructions and access details can help ensure these assets are protected and not lost.
Probate is the process where the court confirms a will’s validity and the executor’s authority to act. In Ontario, this requires payment of the Estate Administration Tax, which is based on the estate’s value. Careful planning—such as using beneficiary designations, joint ownership, or dual wills—can reduce or even avoid probate fees on certain assets.
An executor (called an “estate trustee” in Ontario law) is responsible for carrying out your wishes: paying debts, filing taxes, and distributing assets. When choosing one, consider someone who is trustworthy, organized, financially responsible, and able to handle potential conflicts among beneficiaries. Some people also appoint a professional, such as a trust company, for complex estates.
Often, yes. Different countries (and even provinces) have unique estate laws. Having a separate will in each jurisdiction where you own property ensures local legal requirements are met and prevents delays. It’s important that the wills are carefully coordinated so they don’t accidentally revoke one another.
It’s wise to review your will every 3–5 years, or sooner if you experience a major life change. Common triggers include marriage, separation or divorce, the birth of a child, buying or selling property, starting a business, or the death of a beneficiary or executor. Regular updates ensure your will reflects your current wishes and circumstances.