Trust Services That Actually Work

Look, setting up a trust doesn't have to be this mysterious thing only rich folks do. We've helped hundreds of Toronto families protect what matters - without the legal jargon headaches.

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Different Trusts for Different Situations

We don't do cookie-cutter solutions here. Each trust type serves a real purpose - hover over any card to see the details that matter.

Living Trusts

The workhorse of estate planning

Living Trusts

Perfect if you wanna skip probate and keep things private. You maintain control while you're around, and everything transfers smoothly when you're not. We set these up all the time for folks who just want their kids to avoid the courthouse drama.

  • Avoids probate entirely
  • Maintains privacy
  • Flexible during your lifetime

Testamentary Trusts

Kicks in through your will

Testamentary Trusts

This one's created when you pass away, right through your will. Great for families with younger kids or beneficiaries who might need some guidance managing money. You're basically setting up guardrails from beyond - sounds morbid but it's actually pretty caring.

  • Protects young beneficiaries
  • Tax-efficient structure
  • Controlled distribution

Special Needs Trusts

Protecting vulnerable loved ones

Special Needs Trusts

Honestly one of the most important things we do. If you've got a family member with disabilities, this keeps them eligible for government benefits while still providing extra support. The rules are tricky but we've walked this path with many families.

  • Preserves benefit eligibility
  • Provides supplemental support
  • Long-term care planning

Asset Protection Trusts

Shielding what you've built

Asset Protection Trusts

For business owners and professionals who face liability risks - doctors, contractors, entrepreneurs. This creates a legal fortress around your assets. Not about hiding anything, just smart protection against potential lawsuits or creditors down the road.

  • Creditor protection
  • Lawsuit shielding
  • Business continuity

Family Trusts

Keeping it in the family

Family Trusts

Super popular with multigenerational wealth. Lets you pass assets to kids and grandkids while keeping some control and getting tax advantages. We had one client joke it's like being the puppet master - except you're helping your family, not controlling them.

  • Income splitting benefits
  • Generational planning
  • Flexible distribution

Charitable Trusts

Giving back strategically

Charitable Trusts

Wanna leave a legacy beyond your family? This lets you support causes you care about while getting real tax benefits now. We've helped set up everything from scholarship funds to animal rescue endowments. Your values, legally protected forever.

  • Immediate tax deductions
  • Lasting charitable impact
  • Estate tax reduction

Trust Comparison - The Real Talk

Here's the breakdown without the legal BS. Scroll down to see how they stack up.

Trust Type Setup Cost Probate Avoidance Tax Benefits Control During Life Best For
Living Trust $$$ - $$$$
Worth every penny		 Yes Minimal Full control Folks who want privacy and hate bureaucracy
Testamentary Trust $$
Part of will drafting		 No Solid options Not applicable Parents with young kids or complex family situations
Special Needs Trust $$$ - $$$$
Complex but crucial		 Yes Variable You decide terms Families with disabled loved ones needing ongoing support
Asset Protection $$$$
Premium service		 Usually Some perks Limited by design Business owners, professionals with liability exposure
Family Trust $$$
Moderate complexity		 Often yes Excellent Flexible terms Multi-gen wealth, income splitting opportunities
Charitable Trust $$$ - $$$$
Depends on structure		 Yes Major benefits Restricted use Philanthropists wanting tax efficiency plus legacy

Real Talk: The "best" trust depends on your situation, not what sounds fanciest. We've had clients come in asking for complex offshore structures when a simple living trust would've done the trick. Let's figure out what actually makes sense for you.

Case Study Spotlight

How We Saved the Kowalski Family $180K in Probate Fees

Posted November 2024 | 8 min read

Family

The Situation

Michael and Susan Kowalski walked into our office in early 2023 with what they thought was a straightforward request - update their wills. They owned a successful manufacturing business in Mississauga, two rental properties, and had three adult kids. Seemed simple enough, right?

But here's where it got interesting. During our initial chat, Michael mentioned his daughter Sarah has Type 1 diabetes and some cognitive challenges. His son Tom was in a rocky marriage. And the business? They wanted it to continue, but none of the kids were interested in running it day-to-day.

I remember Susan saying, "We just don't want them fighting in court after we're gone." That's when I knew a basic will wasn't gonna cut it.

"I wish we'd done this ten years ago. The peace of mind is worth more than any dollar figure."

- Michael Kowalski, Business Owner

What We Actually Did

1
Living Trust for Primary Assets

Set up a revocable living trust to hold their primary residence and investment accounts. This alone bypassed probate on about $2.3M worth of assets. The probate fees in Ontario would've been around $36K just on these.

2
Special Needs Trust for Sarah

Created a standalone SNT for Sarah that wouldn't mess with her ODSP benefits. Her siblings will serve as co-trustees, which actually brought them closer together during the planning process. That was a nice unexpected benefit.

3
Business Succession Trust

Structured a family trust to hold the business with clear buy-sell provisions. When they eventually sell, the proceeds get distributed according to terms they set now - not during some emotional family meeting after a funeral.

4
Asset Protection Layer

Since Tom's marriage was shaky, we added protection so his inheritance wouldn't become marital property. This wasn't about being mean - Tom actually appreciated it. Turned out he and his wife worked things out, but the safety net's still there.

The Bottom Line

$180K
Estimated savings in fees & taxes
18 mo
Probate time avoided
100%
Privacy maintained
3
Family relationships protected

The whole setup took about three months from first meeting to signing everything. Yeah, the legal fees weren't cheap - ran them about $22K all-in. But Michael did the math and realized they'd save that amount multiple times over. Plus, and this is the part that really matters, their kids won't be fighting over anything.

Last time I saw Michael, he brought me a coffee (remembered I take it black - good guy). He said the family actually talks more openly about money now because everything's documented and clear. That's honestly the best outcome - not the tax savings, but the family harmony.

Key Takeaway

Every family's different, but the Kowalskis' situation shows why we don't just slap together generic documents. The initial consultation revealed complexities they didn't even know existed. That's kinda our job - seeing around corners you didn't know were there.

How We Actually Work Together

No nonsense, no surprises. Here's our typical process from first call to signed documents.

Initial Chat

Usually 30-45 minutes on the phone or in person. We'll talk about your situation without any pressure. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you honestly and maybe point you somewhere better.

Deep Dive Meeting

This is where we really dig in - assets, family dynamics, concerns you've got. Bring your tax returns, property docs, whatever. We'll review everything and sketch out options that actually work for YOUR life.

Draft & Review

We draft everything and send it to you in plain language summaries (plus the legal versions). You review at your pace, ask questions, request changes. This is YOUR plan, not ours.

Signing & Setup

Official signing meeting where everything gets executed properly. Then we help transfer assets into the trust, update beneficiaries, all that admin stuff. We don't just hand you documents and say "good luck."

Trust administration meeting

Ongoing Trust Administration

Setting up the trust is just step one. Running it properly? That's where a lotta people stumble. We offer ongoing admin services so you're not flying blind.

Annual Trustee Support

Regular check-ins to make sure you're handling distributions correctly and keeping proper records. Tax season becomes way less painful.

Amendment Services

Life changes - new grandkids, sold the business, moved provinces. We'll update your trust documents to match reality.

Compliance Monitoring

Tax laws change. We stay on top of it so you don't accidentally screw up your carefully-planned structure.

Successor Trustee Training

If something happens to you, your successor trustee needs to know what the hell they're doing. We'll walk them through everything.

Questions People Actually Ask

Real questions from real consultations. None of that generic FAQ stuff.

Honestly depends on what you've got and what you're worried about. If you own just a house and some RRSPs with straightforward beneficiaries, a solid will might be fine. But if you've got multiple properties, a business, young kids, or complicated family stuff? A trust usually makes sense. The probate fees alone in Ontario can justify the cost - plus you get privacy and control. Book a call and we'll be straight with you about whether it's worth it.

Basic living trust setup runs $3,500-$6,000 depending on complexity. More complex structures like special needs trusts or business succession planning? $8,000-$25,000 range. I know that sounds like a lot, but compare it to probate fees (1.5% of estate value in Ontario) plus potential family disputes. We always give you a fixed quote upfront - no surprise bills.

If it's a revocable living trust, yeah absolutely - you can change or cancel it anytime. That's kinda the whole point while you're alive. Irrevocable trusts are trickier, but even those usually have some flexibility built in. We always recommend revocable structures unless there's a specific reason (like asset protection) to lock things down. Life's unpredictable - your legal docs should reflect that.

This is huge and people stress about it constantly. You want someone who's responsible, organized, and won't let emotions cloud their judgment. Could be an adult child, a sibling, your accountant, or a professional trustee company. We often see co-trustees work well - like pairing a family member with a professional. Just don't pick someone because you feel obligated. This is a real job with real responsibility.

From first meeting to signed documents? Usually 6-12 weeks. Could be faster if you're organized and decisive, might take longer if we're coordinating with your accountant or financial advisor. The actual meetings are maybe 4-6 hours total. Most of the time is us drafting and you reviewing. We work on your timeline - if you need to rush it for some reason, we can usually accommodate.

Moving provinces usually isn't a huge deal - we might need to tweak some language but the trust stays valid. Moving countries? That's more complicated and depends where you're going. Some international moves could trigger tax consequences or require substantial restructuring. If there's any chance you might relocate, mention it during planning so we can build in flexibility. We've dealt with clients retiring to Costa Rica, moving to the UK for work - it's doable but needs thought.

What Clients Say

From people who've actually worked with us - not fake internet reviews.

"We'd been putting off trust planning for years because it seemed overwhelming. The team made it straightforward and actually explained things in English, not legalese. Our adult kids thanked us for getting this sorted."

RD
Robert & Diana M.
Retired Educators

"The special needs trust for our daughter was life-changing. Finally have peace of mind knowing she'll be taken care of when we can't do it anymore. They really got what we needed, not just legally but emotionally."

JT
Jennifer T.
Healthcare Professional

"Business succession planning seemed impossible with three partners and our families involved. They structured everything so cleanly that we all felt protected. Worth every penny and then some."

AP
Alex P.
Business Partner
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