Wills & Estates Lawyers

The legacy of SimpsonWigle Law LLP is based on over 100 years of leadership and support for our clients and their families in dealing with their personal planning needs and assisting them to pass wealth to the next generations. Our wills and estates lawyers provide comprehensive estate planning, trust, and estate administration services for clients across Hamilton, Burlington, and all of Ontario. 

These services include assistance with estate litigation, trust preparation and administration, succession planning, powers of attorney and guardianships, and collaboration with international lawyers to address foreign jurisdiction issues. 

To discuss your situation, book a consultation with our wills, trusts, and estates lawyers today. You can call our office at 905-528-8411 or email info@simpsonwigle.com today.

Wills, Trusts & Estates Services Our Firm Offers

At SimpsonWigle LAW LLP, our lawyers will review your assets and personal/business situation and take the time to understand your family/relationship dynamics. If you require assistance providing for special needs, disabilities, or vulnerable beneficiaries, our team can help you plan accordingly. Our holistic approach allows us to provide tailored, practical, and comprehensive legal advice to a wide variety of clients. 

Our wills and estates services include:

Wills & Estate Planning

Our wills and estates team can assist individuals in preparing estate plans tailored to their personal and business circumstances. We also assist in planning for incapacity and business succession, and explore opportunities to minimize estate administration tax (probate fees).

Our estate planning services also include:

• Succession planning, including family business transitions (in consultation with SimpsonWigle’s corporate team)
• Henson Trusts
• Disability expense trusts
• Transition of wealth
• First dealing exemption planning
• Generational planning
• Multi-jurisdictional and cross-border planning
• Digital asset planning
• And more

Incapacity Planning and Administration

This is an important part of your planning, both personally and in business. If you do not have a power of attorney in place, your loved ones may have to bring an application to the courts (guardianship applications). 

Our services include:

• Preparation of Powers of Attorney
  • General property
  • Business property
  • Limited powers of attorney
  • Personal care
• Collaboration with foreign jurisdiction lawyers
• Guardianship applications
• Advising attorneys and guardians on their obligations
• Attorney/guardian accounting and formal passing of accounts
• Attorney/guardian personal care record keeping
• And more

Trusts

Our wills and estates lawyers have experience with the preparation and administration of multiple types of trusts. Depending on your unique needs, we can help you identify and create a trust that best suits your circumstances. Our legal team is able to assist with:

• Testamentary Trusts: These are trusts which take effect upon passing and are typically included in your will. These include cottage trusts, principal residence trusts, spousal trusts, trusts for minors, Henson Trusts, Disability Expense trusts, Spend Thrift Trusts, and more.
• Inter Vivos Trusts: These trusts are established while alive and “between the living”. These trusts include family trusts (often implemented as part of a business succession plan), Alter Ego Trusts, Joint Partner Trusts, and more.
• Disability Trusts: These trusts can be testamentary or inter vivos trusts. We can help you ensure financial security for any beneficiaries you have with special needs.
• Life Insurance Trusts: Your life insurance plan can designate a trustee to administer the proceeds on behalf of a minor, an individual, whereby a direct inheritance may disentitle him/her from government or social support, or individual who benefits from another individual managing funds.

Our wills and estates team works collaboratively with our firm’s corporate department. This means we also regularly assist with trust issues embedded within corporate or business reorganization matters.

Estate Administration & Probate Matters

The administration of a loved one’s affairs after their death can be a complex process. It is often the case that individuals named as executors or trustees in a will have no prior experience in estate administration. At SimpsonWigle LAW LLP, we assist executors and estate trustees with their legal and financial obligations. 

We can help individuals navigate:

• Real estate transactions from an estate perspective
• Estate accounting and formal passing of accounts
• Executor compensation
• Distribution of assets to beneficiaries
• Applications for Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee (Probate)
• Non-resident executors and beneficiaries/heirs-at-law
• Passing without a will (intestate matters)
• Difficult beneficiary relationships
• And more

Estate Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Disputes relating to wills and estates have become increasingly common and can become especially complicated by difficult family dynamics. Our wills and estates group at SimpsonWigle LAW LLP can represent clients in a wide variety of estate disputes and court applications, when necessary.

Our estate litigation services include:

• Will challenges
• Beneficiary disputes
• Interpretation issues 
• Applications for directions
• Power of attorney disputes
• Executor or trustee disputes
• And more

Why Choose SimpsonWigle LAW LLP to Assist with Your Wills, Trusts & Estates Needs?

At SimpsonWigle LAW LLP, our values include the necessity to remain current and competent in our practice methodologies. We understand that continuity and stability of service is important to our clients as they contemplate future support for their family members. That’s why our wills and estates lawyers take the time to understand each client’s full picture, going beyond simply filling in the blanks in standard documentation.

Contact Our Wills & Estates Lawyers Today

At SimpsonWigle LAW LLP, we recognize that every client has unique needs when it comes to their estate. Accordingly, in special circumstances,  our Hamilton wills, trusts, and estates lawyers will travel and meet with clients at their home, hospital, or place of business.

With offices located in both Hamilton and Burlington, we can help clients with their estate planning, administration, and litigation needs across the province. You can call our office at 905-528-8411 or email info@simpsonwigle.com to get in touch.