The Value of Naming a Beneficiary

In Ontario, the value of naming a beneficiary can be significant. If you name a beneficiary, an insurance company is obligated, under the Insurance Act, to pay any death benefit proceeds to the named beneficiary on record. Because the death benefit proceeds do not pass through the estate, they not only avoid the delays of settling the estate but also bypass probate and other estate administration fees. To learn more about how important it is to name a beneficiary, please contact us or click here.

Your Will Planning Workbook

A great deal of thought and planning needs to go into preparing your Will. Not only should you consider what your estate is currently worth, you should also consider your future sources of wealth. Click here to download a helpful will planning guide.

Ontario's Estate Information Return

Ontario's probate process is governed by the Estate Administration Tax Act, 1998 ("EATA"). In 2011 Ontario enacted significant changes to the legislation. With these regulations in place, Ontario released its Estate Information Return, which executors will be required to file for estates for which an application of probate had not been submitted prior to January 1, 2015. To learn more about how these regulations may affect you, please contact us or click here.