Succession Planning
Twenty-four articles on wills, estates, and what happens after a death — practical guidance for the days that follow, and the planning that makes them easier.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Canada: A Practical Guide
A calm, step-by-step guide to what to do when a loved one dies in Canada — the immediate steps, the death certificate, the will, notifications, and the estate.
Blended Family Estate Planning in Canada: Providing for Everyone
A simple will can unintentionally leave out children from a prior relationship. Here's how blended families can plan an estate that provides for everyone in Canada.
Deemed Disposition at Death in Canada: What It Means
A plain-language Canadian guide to deemed disposition at death — why Canada has no estate tax but death still triggers capital gains, the spousal rollover, and the liquidity problem.
Digital Assets and Estate Planning in Canada: What to Know
Online accounts, photos, cryptocurrency, and more can be overlooked in an estate plan. Here's how to plan for digital assets in Canada — and why it matters.
Dying Without a Will in Canada: What Intestacy Means
A plain-language Canadian guide to intestacy — what happens when you die without a will, how the law divides your estate, how Quebec differs, and who the law leaves out.
Estate Equalization with Life Insurance: Treating Heirs Fairly
A plain-language Canadian guide to estate equalization — how life insurance helps treat heirs fairly when one asset like a business, cottage, or farm can't easily be divided.
Estate Planning Checklist for Canada: Getting Your Affairs in Order
A practical estate planning checklist for Canadians — the essential documents and decisions to get in order, and how to prepare to work with the right professionals.
Estate Planning for a Beneficiary With a Disability in Canada
Leaving an inheritance to a loved one with a disability takes care — an outright gift can jeopardize benefits. Here's how Henson trusts and RDSPs help in Canada.
Executor and Liquidator Compensation in Canada: How It Works
Is an executor or liquidator paid, how is the amount set, and is it taxable? A clear guide to estate representative compensation across Canada, including Quebec.
Family Business Succession in Canada: Keeping the Business and the Family Whole
A plain-language Canadian guide to family business succession — the active vs. inactive children problem, grooming the next generation, and keeping the family whole.
Final Arrangements and Funeral Planning in Canada: A Calm Guide
Planning final arrangements ahead of time spares your family hard decisions. Here's what it covers, how prepaid plans work, and what to weigh in Canada.
How to Choose an Executor in Canada
A plain-language Canadian guide to choosing an executor — what the role involves, the qualities to look for, common mistakes, and when to consider a professional executor.
Joint Ownership and Estate Planning in Canada: Benefits and Risks
Adding someone to title to avoid probate is common — but joint ownership with right of survivorship carries real risks. Here's what to understand in Canada.
Letter of Wishes and Estate Planning in Canada: What It Is and Isn't
A letter of wishes guides your executor on personal matters a will can't cover — but it isn't legally binding. Here's how to use one well in Canada.
Lifetime Gifting and Estate Planning in Canada: Benefits and Trade-Offs
Giving assets to family during your lifetime instead of through your will has real benefits and real trade-offs. Here's what to weigh in Canada.
Naming a Minor as a Life Insurance Beneficiary: What to Know
A plain-language Canadian guide to naming a minor as a life insurance beneficiary — why it causes problems, what happens without a trustee, how Quebec differs, and the better way.
Per Stirpes vs Per Capita: How Beneficiary Shares Work
A plain-language Canadian guide to per stirpes vs per capita — how a beneficiary's share flows to their descendants, why the difference matters, and how Quebec handles it.
Power of Attorney and Incapacity Planning in Canada
Planning for incapacity is a distinct part of estate planning from your will. Here's how power of attorney — and Quebec's protection mandate — work in Canada.
Testamentary Trusts in Canada: What They Are and When to Use One
A testamentary trust is created by your will to hold assets for your beneficiaries. Here's what testamentary trusts do, their main uses, and their limits in Canada.
The Business Succession Timeline in Canada: Why It Starts Earlier Than You Think
A plain-language Canadian guide to the business succession timeline — why transitioning a business takes years, the four stages, and why starting early protects what you built.
The Final Tax Return at Death in Canada: What the Executor Files
A plain-language Canadian guide to the final tax return at death — what the executor must file, the optional returns that can save tax, and the clearance certificate that protects the executor.
The Principal Residence Exemption at Death in Canada
A plain-language Canadian guide to the principal residence exemption at death — how it shelters the gain on your home, the one-property-per-family rule, and the cottage and rental problem.
What Happens to Your RRSP or RRIF When You Die in Canada
A plain-language Canadian guide to what happens to an RRSP or RRIF at death — why the full value is taxed as income, how the spousal rollover works, and who actually pays the tax.
What Is Probate in Canada? A Plain-Language Guide
A plain-language Canadian guide to probate — what it is, why it exists, when it's required, how Quebec's notarial wills differ, and which assets pass outside the estate.