Articles By Debbie Stanley:

Family wearing red coats, for Valentine’s Day, give the gift of a will and an estate plan

Estate Planning

Three reasons to have a will and estate plan

Creating a will and estate plan may not be the most romantic gesture, but it’s an essential demonstration of...

Three reasons to have a will and estate plan
Father with adult children, toasting during good times. The father is happy as he's taken care of his estate and avoided probate fees in Ontario.

Estate Planning

How to avoid or reduce probate fees in Ontario

Read about the practical strategies to reduce or avoid probate fees in Ontario, and ensure a smoother transfer of...

How to avoid or reduce probate fees in Ontario
family at the cottage, with its future generation of owners

Vacation Homes

Family legacy: How to pass along the family cottage—and 3 things to avoid

Discover key strategies from estate planning lawyer Peter Lillico on preserving your family’s cherished cottage for generations to come.

Family legacy: How to pass along the family cottage—and 3 things to avoid
Daughter writes in asking about how to avoid probate in Canada for her mother's estate

Ask MoneySense

How to avoid probate fees in Canada

Avoiding probate fees in Canada involves implementing strategies such as using beneficiary designations, joint ownership, and establishing trusts to...

How to avoid probate fees in Canada
A niece takes care of her uncle as power of attorney, is not his estate trustee.

Ask MoneySense

When does the role of power of attorney end—and estate trustee begin?

There are various roles for estate planning, including the POA and the estate trustee. Find out the difference between...

When does the role of power of attorney end—and estate trustee begin?
A Canadian family in the kitchen talking about wills and estate planning.

Estate Planning

How important are wills and estate planning for Canadians?

Learn from an estate administrator exactly what Canadian families should do right now to avoid headaches later.

How important are wills and estate planning for Canadians?
A smiling senior-age man at a dinner table with his adult son and daughter

Ask MoneySense

What happens to my RRIF when I die?

Here’s how to leave assets in your RRIF account to your spouse, common-law partner, children, grandkids or other beneficiaries—and...

What happens to my RRIF when I die?
A man on the beach with his grandson, because he was able to apply for CPP Survivor's Pension benefit

Ask MoneySense

What is the CPP Survivor’s Pension? How can Canadians claim this benefit?

When a spouse loses their partner, benefits are available to them through the government, such as the CPP Survivor’s...

What is the CPP Survivor’s Pension? How can Canadians claim this benefit?
A multi-generational photo, showing the impact of a death in the family, estate planning and the final return

Taxes

The final tax return after death: How it gets done in Canada

The final tax return after death: How it gets done in Canada