Nova Scotia directory

Wills, Estates & Trusts Law Firms in Halifax County, Nova Scotia

63 law firms.

What does a wills and estates lawyer in Halifax do?

A Halifax wills and estates lawyer helps you plan what happens to your property after death, and helps families settle an estate afterward. That means drafting wills, powers of attorney, and personal directives, then guiding an executor through probate. When a grant is needed, the file goes to the Probate Court, which sits within the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. In Halifax the Registrar of Probate works out of the Law Courts at 1815 Upper Water Street.

Planning happens in advance, when a lawyer in Halifax or Dartmouth maps out your assets and beneficiaries and drafts a clear will. Administration comes later, when an executor needs help collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing what's left.

What makes a will valid in Nova Scotia?

Wills in the province are governed by the Wills Act. Usually a will is signed by the person making it and witnessed by two people present at the same time, and a witness shouldn't benefit under it. A will written entirely in your own handwriting and signed can stand on its own, without witnesses. The Act also lets a court accept a document that misses a formal step, if it reflects the person's real intentions.

Even so, a homemade will in Bedford or Lower Sackville can be valid and still cause trouble, because vague wording or an out-of-date beneficiary turns into a dispute later.

How does probate work in Nova Scotia?

Probate is the court process that confirms an executor's authority and the validity of a will. It runs under the Probate Act, and the Probate Court hears these matters through Justices of the Supreme Court and the Registrar of Probate. Where there's a will, the executor applies for a grant of probate. Where there's no valid will naming someone who can act, the court issues a grant of administration instead.

The estate pays a probate tax to the court, and that amount rises with the value of the estate, so a larger estate in Fall River pays more than a modest one. Fees can change, so confirm the current figure before you budget for it.

How do you choose a wills and estates firm in Halifax?

Look for a firm that handles the kind of file you have. A simple will is different work from a blended-family plan, a business succession, or a contested estate, and not every practice does all of them. Ask who will draft your documents, where they'll keep the signed original, and what they charge, whether that's a flat fee or an hourly rate.

Halifax firms serve clients across Dartmouth, Bedford, Lower Sackville, and Fall River, so there's usually one within reach. You can confirm any lawyer's standing with the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. Browse the wills, estates & trusts firms in Halifax below.

Aodhan Murphy Law is a sole criminal defence practice based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Aodhan P. Murphy handles criminal charges including impaired driving, assault, drug offences, theft, and sexual offences, and also o…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Arcus Legal

7 lawyers

Arcus Legal is a Halifax law firm advising individuals and business owners on tax planning, real estate, business law and estate planning. Its services cover owner-managed tax structures, business purchases and sales,…

Tax LawTax LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Atherton Nicholson

6 lawyers · Est. 2013

Atherton Nicholson, Barristers and Solicitors, is a small trial-law firm in downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Formed as a partnership in 2013 by Patrick Atherton and Tanya Nicholson, who had previously practised togeth…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceFamily LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Bailey and Associates

4 lawyers · Est. 1984

Bailey and Associates is a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia law firm founded in 1984 as Bailey and Black. It practises criminal law, family law, real estate and residential law, wills and estate planning, motor vehicle charges,…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceFamily LawFamily LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

BOYNECLARKE LLP

48 lawyers · Est. 1972

BOYNECLARKE LLP is a large full-service law firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, founded in 1972. It's grown into one of Atlantic Canada's largest firms, with more than 55 lawyers covering personal matters like real …

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsFamily LawFamily LawPersonal InjuryPersonal Injury

Brooks Business Law

2 lawyers · Est. 2024

Brooks Business Law is a boutique corporate, commercial and real estate transactions firm based in Bedford, Nova Scotia, established by Garnet Brooks in 2024. The firm advises entrepreneurs, professionals and Indigeno…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsImmigration LawImmigration Law

Burchell MacDougall LLP

30 lawyers · Est. 1944

Burchell MacDougall LLP was founded in Truro, Nova Scotia in 1944 by Wilfred Burchell and R. Lorne MacDougall and is one of the oldest, most established law firms in the province. It has grown from its Truro roots to …

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsFamily LawFamily Law

Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP (BWB) is a full-service law firm based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a history spanning well over a century. The firm advises businesses, institutions and individuals across litigation, co…

Indigenous LawIndigenous LawAdministrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory LawBankruptcy & InsolvencyBankruptcy & InsolvencyConstruction LawConstruction Law

Burnside Law Group

3 lawyers

Burnside Law Group is a small general practice firm based in the Burnside Industrial Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, serving individuals, families and small businesses. The firm handles business law, civil litigation,…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCriminal DefenceCriminal DefenceEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Burton Law

1 lawyer · Est. 2020

Burton Law is a Halifax, Nova Scotia solo law practice founded in 2020 by David Burton, a former Toronto litigator. The firm focuses on real estate transactions and life and legacy planning, including wills and trusts…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Carter Simpson

3 lawyers

Carter Simpson is a Halifax, Nova Scotia plaintiff-side law firm founded by Bob Carter and Ansley Simpson, focused primarily on personal injury, insurance and disability claims. The firm also handles wills and estate …

Personal InjuryPersonal InjuryInsurance LawInsurance LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Carver Law

4 lawyers

Carver Law is an estates and litigation boutique based in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, with a second office in Halifax. The firm focuses exclusively on wills, estates, trusts, and related civil litigation, and has been r…

Wills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

CIR LAW Inc.

2 lawyers

CIR LAW Inc. is a small law firm centrally located in Halifax with two full-time lawyers. It practises in family law, civil litigation, administrative law, wills and estates, residential tenancies, securities and nota…

Family LawFamily LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionAdministrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Clarke Legal Group

1 lawyer · Est. 1960

Clarke Legal Group is a downtown Halifax law office that also operates as Clyde A. Paul & Associates, a firm founded in 1960, sharing an office on Herring Cove Road. The practice focuses on wills, estate planning, pow…

Wills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsReal Estate LawReal Estate LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Cox & Palmer

221 lawyers

Cox & Palmer is a full-service regional law firm with roughly 200 lawyers and more than a century of experience serving individuals and businesses across Atlantic Canada. It has offices in New Brunswick, Newfoundland …

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawTax LawTax LawFamily LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

CWD Law Incorporated

1 lawyer · Est. 2002

CWD Law Incorporated is the law firm of Charles W. Demond, based in the Sun Tower building in Bedford, Nova Scotia. It has served clients since 2002, focusing on business, estate, and tax law, including corporate tran…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsTax LawTax Law

DCL Law

4 lawyers

DCL Law is a small, client-focused law firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, offering real estate, wills and estates, and corporate law services. The firm emphasizes an approachable, personal style of service and has …

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Diamond & Diamond Lawyers LLP is a national personal injury firm headquartered in Toronto, with offices across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Its main focus is personal injury and accident claims,…

Personal InjuryPersonal InjuryWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsReal Estate LawReal Estate LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Dobrosky Law

1 lawyer

Dobrosky Law is a Nova Scotia law firm that works with clients to educate and guide them on the law, applying a holistic approach to help clients understand their rights and pursue legal solutions suited to their indi…

Wills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsNotary & Commissioner ServicesNotary & Commissioner Services

Enterprise Law Group is a boutique law firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, serving individuals and businesses across the province. Its three lawyers cover tax law, family law, corporate transactions, civil and comme…

Tax LawTax LawFamily LawFamily LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawTechnology & StartupsTechnology & Startups

Fall River Law

2 lawyers · Est. 1996

Fall River Law opened in 1996 and offers real estate, small business, and wills and estate law services, with a specialty in mediation and collaborative family law. The firm emphasizes a relaxed, plain-language approa…

Family LawFamily LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Farrow Hicks McDade Law

5 lawyers · Est. 2009

Farrow Hicks McDade Law is a general practice law firm in Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia, founded as Farrow Law by Jacqueline Farrow in 2009. The firm handles real estate, corporate and commercial law, family law, wills…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawFamily LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Fellows Law

1 lawyer

Fellows Law is a general practice law firm in Halifax, Nova Scotia, led by Noel Fellows, offering services in criminal law, family law, wills and estates, property law, and personal injury. The firm also operates Atla…

Criminal DefenceCriminal DefenceWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsFamily LawFamily LawReal Estate LawReal Estate Law

Fitch Violande

4 lawyers · Est. 2015

Fitch Violande is an association of independent legal practitioners in Halifax, Nova Scotia, founded by Nicholaus Fitch and James Violande in October 2015. The firm offers legal help in corporate and commercial law, c…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawCriminal DefenceCriminal DefenceFamily LawFamily LawPersonal InjuryPersonal Injury