Maurice Vaturi
Senior Counsel
Other Services
Wills & Estates Lawyer Torontofor wills, powers of attorney, probate, and estate administration
Trusted by Toronto families and executors across Ontario
Overview
Estate planning is one of the most important things you do for your family
Planning your estate is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. From drafting Wills and Powers of Attorney to managing complex probate litigation, our lawyers create a plan that ensures your wishes are carried out and your family is protected.
Without proper estate planning, Ontario's intestacy rules under the Succession Law Reform Act decide who inherits — often in ways that differ significantly from what most people would have chosen. With proper planning, your wishes are honoured, your family is protected, and unnecessary estate administration tax can be minimized.
Our wills and estates practice spans estate planning (wills, powers of attorney, trusts), estate administration (executor support), and estate litigation (will challenges, dependant support claims). We work in English, Korean, and several other languages, and we offer fixed-rate packages for most standard estate planning matters.
Practice areas
Wills and estates services
Select a service below to learn how we can help protect your legacy and your family's future.
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Will Preparation & Powers of Attorney
Draft comprehensive Last Wills, Powers of Attorney for Property and Personal Care, and specialized trusts that comply with the Succession Law Reform Act.
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Probate & Estate Litigation
Contest invalid Wills, remove negligent executors, and resolve inheritance disputes through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice Estates List.
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Estate Administration
Full support for executors managing probate applications, CRA filings, asset liquidation, and final distributions to beneficiaries.
Without a will
Ontario's intestacy rules decide for you — and they often choose differently than you would
If you die without a will, Ontario's Succession Law Reform Act divides your estate by formula — preferential share to a spouse, statutory percentages to children. There is no discretion for blended families, common-law spouses, vulnerable beneficiaries, charitable wishes, or business succession.
A properly drafted will lets you choose. The first consultation is free.
Key metrics
In the numbers
- Will packages available
- Fixed-Rate
- Litigation experience
- Estates List
- Languages spoken at the firm
- 8+
- Discreet representation
- Confidential
Will packages available
Litigation experience
Languages spoken at the firm
Discreet representation
Our process
How a wills and estates engagement actually works
Most wills and estates matters follow the same general flow — consultation, asset review, drafting or filing, and implementation. Our job is to keep it predictable, transparent, and aligned with your wishes.
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Step 1 — Initial Consultation
We start with a 30-minute consultation to understand your family situation, assets, and wishes. The first call is free and entirely confidential. - 02
Step 2 — Asset and Beneficiary Review
For estate planning, we map your assets — real estate, investments, business interests, foreign holdings, life insurance — and identify the beneficiaries and contingencies. For estate administration, we identify all assets and debts of the deceased. - 03
Step 3 — Drafting and Filing
We draft Wills, Powers of Attorney, and trusts, or for administration, prepare probate applications, CRA filings, and accountings. Every document is reviewed with you before signing or filing. - 04
Step 4 — Implementation and Closure
For estate planning, we register the documents and ensure proper storage. For administration, we manage asset distribution to beneficiaries, file final tax returns, and close the estate. Where litigation is needed (will challenges, executor removal), we represent the appropriate party.
Our team
The lawyers who will handle your file
Wills and estates work rewards attention to detail, sensitivity to family circumstances, and discretion. Our team brings all three to every engagement.
Avi Vaturi
Partner
Jae Hyon Cho
Partner
Jun Ki Lee
Associate
Allan Weiss
Associate
Kate Min Kwon
Immigration Consultant
RCIC R529664 · RQIC 11726
Frequently Asked Questions
We answered all
Do I really need a will?
Yes. Without a will, Ontario's intestacy rules under the Succession Law Reform Act govern your estate — and the result often differs significantly from what most people would choose. The intestacy formula divides assets between spouse and children based on a preferential share and statutory percentages, with no discretion for personal circumstances. A will lets you choose your executor, name guardians for minor children, structure inheritances (including trusts for young or vulnerable beneficiaries), make charitable gifts, and minimize estate administration tax.What is the difference between a Will and a Power of Attorney?
A Will takes effect at death and governs the distribution of your estate. A Power of Attorney is a document that gives someone authority to make decisions on your behalf during your lifetime — Powers of Attorney for Property handle financial matters, and Powers of Attorney for Personal Care handle health and personal decisions. Both are essential parts of a complete estate plan. Without a POA, decisions during incapacity require court-appointed guardianship, which is slow and expensive.How much does estate planning cost in Toronto?
VC Lawyers offers fixed-rate packages for standard estate planning. A simple Will package (Last Will, Power of Attorney for Property, Power of Attorney for Personal Care) starts around $500–$800 for individuals or $800–$1,200 for couples. Complex estates with trusts, business interests, foreign assets, or special-needs beneficiaries are quoted individually based on scope. The first consultation is free.What is probate and is it always required?
Probate is the court process of confirming a Will's validity and authorizing the executor to act. In Ontario, probate is officially called a “Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee with a Will” (or “without a Will” for intestate estates). Probate is required for most estates that include real estate or significant financial assets. Some assets pass outside probate — joint property with right of survivorship, registered accounts with named beneficiaries, life insurance with named beneficiaries — and proper estate planning can minimize the assets that go through probate.Can a Will be challenged in Ontario?
Yes. Common grounds for challenging a Will include lack of testamentary capacity (the testator did not have the mental capacity to make the Will at the time of signing); undue influence (the Will reflects another person's wishes rather than the testator's); improper execution (the Will was not signed and witnessed correctly); fraud (forgery or misrepresentation); and dependant support claims under Part V of the Succession Law Reform Act. Will challenges are heard before the Estates List of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. We represent both challengers and propounders.What does an executor actually do?
An executor's responsibilities include locating the Will, identifying and securing assets, applying for probate (where required), notifying beneficiaries and creditors, paying debts and taxes, filing the deceased's final tax returns, distributing assets per the Will, providing accountings to beneficiaries, and closing the estate. The role can take 6 months to several years depending on complexity. Executors face personal liability if they breach their fiduciary duties — having a lawyer guide the process protects both the executor and the estate.
Take the next step
Ready to plan your estate? Don't leave your family's future to chance.
The first 30-minute consultation is free and entirely confidential. Within that conversation, you will have a clear understanding of what your estate plan should include, what fixed-rate package fits your situation, and what next steps make sense — whether you are planning ahead or administering an estate that is already underway.
Other services
More practice areas
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Real Estate
Property transfers as part of estate distribution.
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Corporate Law
Business succession planning for owner-operated businesses.
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Family Law
Estate planning updates after marriage, separation, or divorce.
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Civil Litigation
Will challenges and other estate disputes outside the Estates List.