You Can Take It With You: Protect and Preserve our Estate

Canadian families with U.S. connections face unique estate planning challenges that require regular review. This comprehensive guide examines eight critical areas—from wills and powers of attorney to cross-border trusts and reporting obligations—that warrant attention before year-end, particularly when family circumstances, asset values, or residency status have changed.

Canadians who own US property, hold American investments, or have family members with US citizenship face a complex web of estate tax obligations spanning two countries. Without proper coordination, your heirs could face double taxation, frozen assets during lengthy Florida probate proceedings, or unexpected tax bills that consume a significant portion of their inheritance.

Ontario probate requires court certification, estate administration tax of up to 1.5%, and careful navigation of cross-border rules when US property is involved. Executors face strict timelines, fiduciary duties, and potential personal liability, while proper planning through multiple wills and beneficiary designations can significantly reduce both costs and delays.

Many people may be surprised and pleased to learn that there is a new path to becoming a Canadian citizen. The Government of Canada passed Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (2025), on December 15, 2025. Before this legislation came into effect, Canadian citizenship by descent was limited to the first generation born outside Canada. For example, Emily was born or naturalized in Canada, and she could pass her citizenship to her child, Duncan, born outside of Canada.

The Supreme Court of Canada has established a groundbreaking new common law tort of Intimate Partner Violence, fundamentally changing how survivors can seek civil remedies for coercive and controlling behavior in intimate relationships. This landmark decision introduces a legal framework that recognizes patterns of abuse beyond traditional assault claims, focusing on the cumulative nature of coercive control that strips victims of their dignity, autonomy and equality. Courts across Canada are now beginning

Probate in British Columbia is the legal process that confirms a deceased person's will and authorizes the executor to administer the estate. While not every estate requires probate, it is often necessary when real estate or significant assets are involved.

Should you add your adult children to your property title to avoid probate in Ontario? This estate planning decision can have consequences beyond probate costs.

With the rapid progress of artificial intelligence in the legal field, we often hear the same question arise again and again: will AI replace the need for estate planning lawyers?

Questions about a person's mental capacity often arise at some of the most difficult moments in a family's life. Adult children may be worried about an aging parent's finances or personal care. Siblings may disagree about whether a parent understood a new will or power of attorney.

Estate disputes in British Columbia can come down to a deceptively simple question: When does an inheritance actually "vest"—at death, or only when the estate is distributed?

Federal and provincial privacy regulators have concluded a multi-year investigation into OpenAI's data practices, finding contraventions of Canadian privacy legislation in how personal information was collected and used...

Alta Daily ("Alta"), founded by Jenny Wang, is an innovative startup that is transforming how artificial intelligence can assist users with personal styling.

Pronto.ai Inc. ("Pronto"), a San Francisco-based startup specializing in autonomous haulage systems, announced its acquisition of SafeAI Inc. ("SafeAI"), a leader in safety-driven autonomous...

CanLII, Canada's free legal database, and Caseway, an AI legal research platform, have reportedly reached a settlement in their copyright dispute over the use of legal case data for artificial intelligence training purposes. The resolution addresses concerns about unauthorized use of publicly available legal materials and the boundaries of AI development in the legal technology sector.

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle technology company, has unveiled a new custom chip designed to enhance its self-driving capabilities. This development represents a significant step in the company's efforts to advance autonomous vehicle technology through specialized hardware solutions. The custom chip is expected to improve processing efficiency and performance in Waymo's autonomous driving systems.

Magic Potion Games, founded by the creators of Club Penguin, has launched Imagine Island, a new online multiplayer game designed for children aged 6-13. With over one million players during beta testing and a successful Series A funding round, the platform prioritizes safety and transparency while preparing for major expansion through entertainment partnerships and paid memberships.

Over the past two years, the team at NordSpace – a Canadian company based in Markham – has been working to develop a rocket with the goal of achieving the first commercial rocket launch from Canada.

A Toronto-based startup is revolutionizing sports broadcasting by adapting video game replay technology for live sporting events. This innovation promises to transform how fans experience and interact with professional sports coverage, bringing gaming-style visual enhancements to real-world athletic competitions.

The governments of Canada, Ontario and British Columbia have reached an agreement in principle to establish a cooperative capital markets regulatory system.

Canada's Trademarks Opposition Board has introduced new requirements for handling confidential evidence in trademark proceedings, mandating the use of Canada Post's secure digital platform.