Wills and Estates Legal Services in Ontario

Comprehensive Legal Counsel for Estate Planning, Administration, and Litigation

Estate Planning and Administration You Can Rely On

A will is one of the most important legal documents a person will ever sign, and one of the most commonly deferred. A Continuing Power of Attorney for Property and a Power of Attorney for Personal Care, which govern who makes decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, are equally essential and equally neglected. For many Ontario families, the absence of proper estate planning is only discovered when it is too late to address it.

At Goldstein & Grubner LLP, our estates practice encompasses the full spectrum of wills and estates law, from will drafting, powers of attorney, and comprehensive estate plans through to probate applications, estate administration, and contested estate litigation. Ken Goldstein has advised Ontario clients on estate matters for nearly five decades, assisting individuals and families at every stage: planning for the future, administering a loved one’s estate, and resolving disputes when the validity or interpretation of a will is called into question.

We approach estate planning as a meaningful exercise in protecting what you have built and ensuring it passes according to your wishes. When estate disputes arise, we provide clear, experienced legal representation grounded in an understanding of what is at stake for the families involved.

Book Your Consultation Today

Our Wills and Estates Services

Contesting Wills and Power of Attorney

A will may be challenged on a number of grounds under Ontario law, including lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, fraud, or failure to comply with execution formalities. Challenges to powers of attorney may similarly arise where there are concerns about the donor’s capacity at the time of execution or the conduct of the attorney. We advise clients on whether their circumstances support a viable challenge, what evidence is required, and how to proceed effectively through the courts.

Estate Litigation Services

Estate disputes take many forms: contested wills, trust disputes, disagreements over executor conduct, passing of accounts, rectification applications, dependants’ relief claims under the Succession Law Reform Act, and conflicts arising from the interpretation of estate documents. We provide experienced representation in estate disputes of all kinds, focused on resolving matters as efficiently as possible while protecting our clients’ legal rights and interests.

Family Law Estate Claims

The intersection of family law and estates law gives rise to claims that require expertise in both areas. A surviving spouse may have rights under Ontario’s Family Law Act, including the right to elect an equalization payment and rights relating to the matrimonial home, that interact with or override the provisions of a will. Dependants not adequately provided for may have claims under the Succession Law Reform Act. Common law spouses and separated spouses may have constructive or resulting trust claims. We advise on and represent clients across the full range of family law estate claims.

Probate Applications

When a person dies, their executor must typically obtain a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee before financial institutions and other asset holders will recognize the executor’s authority to deal with estate assets. The process involves preparing and filing an application with the Superior Court of Justice, paying estate administration tax, and complying with specific procedural requirements. We assist executors in navigating the probate process efficiently and advise on the distinct considerations that arise when a person dies without a valid will.

Wills and Powers of Attorney

A properly drafted will ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, your chosen executor has clear legal authority, and your beneficiaries are protected. Under Ontario’s Substitute Decisions Act, 1992, a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property authorizes your chosen attorney to manage your financial affairs, while a Power of Attorney for Personal Care authorizes decisions about your health and personal wellbeing. We also advise on family trusts, testamentary trusts, and Henson trusts for beneficiaries with disabilities, and assist business owners with the integration of estate planning and corporate reorganization strategy.

Why Choose Goldstein & Grubner LLP for Wills and Estates

Estate matters require a lawyer who takes the time to understand your family, your assets, and your intentions, and who has the experience to anticipate the issues that arise when those intentions are later tested. Ken Goldstein has provided that counsel to clients in Toronto and Scarborough for nearly five decades, across thousands of estate files and across generations of the same families.

 

  • Nearly 50 years of wills and estates experience across planning, administration, and litigation
  • Full-service estate planning capability including trusts, Henson trusts, and corporate integration
  • Deep expertise at the intersection of estates and family law
  • Registered Notary Public with additional document services available to estate clients where relevant
  • Experienced estate litigator with nearly five decades of litigation experience to draw on when disputes arise
  • Multi-generational client relationships: many of our estates clients are the children and grandchildren of long-standing clients

Connect With Goldstein And Grubner

Phone:
416-292-0414
Email:
AdamD@GGDLaw.ca OR MarshaR@ggdlaw.ca
Address:
100 Cowdray Court, Suite 100
Toronto, ON M1S 5C8

Contact Our Wills and Estates Team

Whether you are planning your estate, administering a loved one’s estate, or navigating a dispute, Goldstein & Grubner LLP provides the experienced legal counsel Ontario residents rely on for wills and estates matters.

Contact us to schedule a consultation with Ken Goldstein.

Our Services

Corporate & Business Law

Real Estate Law

Healthcare Professionals

Family Law

Wills & Estates