Effective estate planning ensures that an estate is distributed as wished, family conflict is avoided and tax exposure reduced. In addition, an effective plan provides for substitute decision making should incapacity occur.

Our interdisciplinary team of advisors play a major role in helping Canadians, whether private individuals or business owners, plan for the future. Our clients range in age and net-worth—those recently married or those with young families, those managing their tax liabilities internationally, those planning exit strategies from their enterprises and individuals who simply want to make sure their estates are distributed wisely and according to their wishes. We also advise clients with closely held businesses on succession and control issues.

We also act on behalf of trustees, executors, and substitute decision makers regarding estate administration issues. Throughout the process, we are deliberate, current with new developments in the law and sensitive to the unique needs of our clients' professional, work-life and family circumstances.

Bennett Jones provides legal advice in the area of wills, trusts and estate administration. We also advise on planning for mental incapacity, including powers of attorney and personal directives. Our lawyers provide a complete range of services with respect to trusts, including settlement, variation and advising trustees as to fiduciary responsibilities. Our highly regarded tax lawyers provide a complete array of Canadian tax advice for domestic and cross-border situations. Our corporate tax lawyers provide for seamless integration in tax planning for clients' business and family together.

Should conflict arise in an estate, Bennett Jones also provides assistance in the area of Estate Litigation.