Who this is for
- US citizens and green-card holders living in Canada. The US taxes its citizens wherever they live. An Ontario-only estate plan, especially one using standard Canadian trust structures, can create expensive US-side problems your Canadian lawyer never sees coming.
- Canadians with US assets. Florida or Arizona property, US brokerage accounts, US business interests: each can mean US probate, and potentially US estate tax exposure, unless planned around in advance.
- Cross-border families. Beneficiaries, executors, or attorneys for property on the other side of the border each raise issues a single-jurisdiction plan doesn't address.
- New Canadians. If you've recently become a permanent resident or citizen, perhaps with our Mobility practice, your old home-country documents likely don't work here, and you may still have US connections that need coordination.
What we prepare
- Coordinated wills and, where appropriate, trusts designed to function under both Ontario and US rules
- Powers of attorney for property and personal care (and US equivalents where needed)
- Asset protection structures for business owners, planned before they're needed
- Probate and administration support for estates with assets on both sides of the border
The dual-licence difference
The usual approach to a cross-border estate is two firms, one in each country, each drafting blind to the other's system, with the client as the messenger. The Stability practice at this firm is led by counsel licensed in both Ontario and New York: one lawyer who reads both sides of the plan, one retainer, no coordination gap.
Common questions
Do I need two wills?
Sometimes. Multiple-situs wills are a common tool, but the answer depends on where your assets and beneficiaries are. The point of coordinated planning is that the documents are designed together so neither revokes or undermines the other.
What does it cost?
Planning is quoted flat-fee after a consultation, based on the structure your situation actually needs. You'll know the number before we start.
I already have a will from my home country. Is that enough?
Frequently not. Foreign wills may be recognized in Ontario, but recognition is not the same as working well, and they rarely address Canadian probate mechanics or US exposure.
General legal information, not advice. Cross-border outcomes depend heavily on individual facts. Nothing here addresses your specific situation, and tax outcomes should be confirmed with cross-border tax professionals as part of planning.