Tax & Estate Planning

Estate planning involves issues of asset ownership, protection, and distribution, both during life and upon death. Our clients' goals are diverse, and may include a need to provide for family members, planning for incapacity, minimization of income taxes and probate fees, mitigating concerns of possible Wills Variation Act claims, protecting against risks of legal claims by various parties or tax-effective charitable giving.

An effective estate plan is a legal strategy that ensures a client's personal objectives concerning the administration and succession to his or her wealth are implemented in a tax efficient manner.

Our Tax & Estate Planning Group provides experienced legal counsel to clients on all diverse matters relating to the creation of an effective estate plan. Some of the services we offer include:

• Revising the status of current Asset Ownership to secure maximum tax and asset protection benefits.
• Using "living" or "inter vivos" Trusts to minimize or eliminate exposure to tax, matrimonial claims, creditor claims, and probate fees.
• Addressing Canada/US tax planning issues relevant to Canadian residents owning U.S. assets, U.S. citizens resident in Canada or holding Canadian assets, and "mixed" marriages between Canadian and U.S. citizens.
• Implementing Estate Freeze structures to minimize Canadian taxation on death and consolidate wealth ownership and control.
• Drafting Representation Agreements under new British Columbia laws that permit legally binding directions regarding health care and asset management.
• Formulating Will plans that facilitate personal asset succession in light of tax and Wills Variation concerns.
• Utilizing recent Federal and Provincial Laws for common-law and same-sex partnerships to benefit from the wealth preservation and tax protection formerly afforded only to married couples.

Please feel free to contact any member of our group for more information about the services we offer.