Ontario directory

Wills, Estates & Trusts Law Firms in Waterloo Region, Ontario

101 law firms.

What does a wills and estates lawyer in Waterloo Region do?

A wills and estates lawyer in Waterloo Region helps you plan what happens to your property after death and helps your family carry that plan out. The work covers drafting wills, setting up powers of attorney, and guiding an estate trustee through probate and the settling of an estate. Common files include a first will for a young family in Kitchener, an update after a remarriage, and the administration of a parent's estate in Cambridge or Waterloo. When probate is needed, the application goes to the Superior Court of Justice, which sits at the Waterloo Region Courthouse at 85 Frederick Street in Kitchener.

Most of this work happens at a desk, not in a courtroom. If a dispute breaks out over a will or an estate, that's when the court steps in.

How does probate work in Ontario?

Probate confirms a will and the authority of the person named to act on it. In Ontario that authority comes as a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee, issued by the Superior Court of Justice. Banks, land registry offices, and investment firms often want to see it before they'll release money or transfer a home.

Probate also brings the Estate Administration Tax, which the estate pays based on the value of what the deceased owned. Smaller estates below a set threshold owe nothing, and the province publishes the current rate and exemption. Because the tax turns on value, a lawyer will help you total the assets and decide whether some property can pass outside the estate.

What are powers of attorney, and why do they matter?

Powers of attorney let someone you trust act for you while you're alive but unable to decide for yourself. Under Ontario's Substitute Decisions Act, 1992, there are two: a continuing power of attorney for property, which covers finances, and a power of attorney for personal care, which covers health and daily living. A wills and estates lawyer usually prepares both alongside your will.

Without them, your family may have to apply to court to be appointed guardian, which costs time and money. Signing them while you clearly have capacity keeps the choice in your hands. People in Waterloo and Cambridge often revisit these documents every few years as life changes.

How do you choose a wills and estates firm in Waterloo Region?

Start with a firm that regularly does the work you need, whether that's a simple will, a blended-family plan, or a larger estate. Ask who will draft your documents, how they store the signed originals, and what happens if a dispute reaches court. Firms across Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge handle both the planning and the administration, so you can usually find one close to home.

You can confirm any lawyer's standing on the Law Society of Ontario directory. Browse the wills, estates & trusts firms in Waterloo Region below.

Abarca Law

1 lawyer

Abarca Law is a law firm in Kitchener, Ontario serving Waterloo Region, Cambridge, Brant County, and surrounding South Western Ontario townships. The firm handles civil litigation, immigration, employment, family law,…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionImmigration LawImmigration LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawFamily LawFamily Law

ADRG Law

1 lawyer

ADRG Law is a commercial real estate and corporate law firm in the Waterloo Region that serves clients across Southwestern Ontario. It practises real estate law, corporate law, and wills, estates and trusts, with a fo…

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

Amaral Mendes LLP

3 lawyers

Amaral Mendes LLP is a Kitchener firm serving Waterloo Region, founded by partners Nelson Amaral and Fil Mendes. Its work covers civil litigation, corporate and commercial law, and wills, estates and trusts. Insurance…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsPersonal InjuryPersonal Injury

Amiri LLP

2 lawyers

Amiri LLP (Amiris) is a virtual law firm serving the Greater Toronto Area and the Region of Waterloo. It's a full-service practice covering business, family, civil litigation, immigration, real estate, and wills and e…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawFamily LawFamily LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionImmigration LawImmigration Law

Ardent Law Professional Corporation is a full-service law firm with offices in Mississauga and Cambridge, Ontario. Its team of lawyers handles real estate, immigration, criminal, family, civil litigation, personal inj…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawImmigration LawImmigration LawCriminal DefenceCriminal DefenceFamily LawFamily Law

Aroso Law

1 lawyer

Aroso Law is a solo practice led by Busuyi Aroso, a lawyer called to the Ontario Bar. The firm handles real estate, family, employment, and wills and estates matters. It serves Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, …

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsFamily LawFamily LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

AValois Law Professional Corporation is a solo practice in Uptown Waterloo led by Aida Valois. It focuses on real estate transactions, business and corporate law, and wills and estates, including estate administration…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsNotary & Commissioner ServicesNotary & Commissioner Services

Bagaslao Law

1 lawyer

Bagaslao Law is a Whitehorse, Yukon firm with a satellite office in Cambridge, Ontario. It's led by Rod Bagaslao and focuses on immigration and refugee law, family law, wills and estates, and real estate conveyancing.

Immigration LawImmigration LawFamily LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsReal Estate LawReal Estate Law

Bellin Law is an Ontario firm with offices in Cambridge and Toronto. It handles litigation, corporate, and wills and estates matters. The firm describes its aim as prompt, efficient service for a fair and reasonable fee.

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Bennett Grant LLP

21 lawyers

Bennett Grant LLP is a full-service law firm in the Waterloo Region that has served clients across Ontario for approximately 60 years. It handles insurance defence, municipal liability, civil litigation, family, emplo…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFamily LawFamily LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Bhatia Law Office is a solo law firm in Kitchener, Ontario, run by Arun K. Bhatia, a barrister, solicitor and notary public. Real estate is its main focus, covering residential and commercial purchases, sales, mortgag…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsNotary & Commissioner ServicesNotary & Commissioner Services

Cafengiu Law

1 lawyer · Est. 2014

Cafengiu Law is a Kitchener-Waterloo firm focused on family law and wills and estates. Its family law services include divorce, separation agreements, custody and parenting arrangements, property division, and cohabit…

Family LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Chan Law

1 lawyer

Chan Law is a general practice firm in Waterloo, Ontario, led by lawyer Douglas Chan. It handles real estate, family law, wills, powers of attorney and estates, and corporate and commercial matters, and it offers nota…

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

Chanda Law

1 lawyer

Chanda Law is a sole practitioner firm led by Arifa Chanda, serving Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo and Guelph, Ontario. It focuses on family law and child protection, and also prepares wills and powers of attorney and…

Family LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsNotary & Commissioner ServicesNotary & Commissioner ServicesLegal aidLegal Aid

Chess Legal

1 lawyer · Est. 2011

Chess Legal is a Cambridge law firm that's practised since 2011. It handles real estate, business and corporate law, family law, wills and estates, immigration, and notarization. The firm offers services in English, P…

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

Clarke & Co.

2 lawyers

Clarke & Co. is a Waterloo, Ontario law firm founded by Daniel J. Clarke. It focuses on real estate, business and corporate law, wills and powers of attorney, trusts, estates, and mergers and acquisitions, and it also…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsNotary & Commissioner ServicesNotary & Commissioner Services

Cohen Highley LLP

34 lawyers · Est. 1974

Cohen Highley LLP is a full-service law firm founded in London, Ontario in 1974. It practises across family law, personal injury, business law, real estate, wills and estates, employment, multi-residential housing and…

Family LawFamily LawPersonal InjuryPersonal InjuryBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate Law

CoLex Legal Professional Corporation is an association of lawyers with offices in London, Cambridge and Ottawa, Ontario, offering real estate law, business law, immigration law, wills and estate planning, and dispute …

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

CWM Law

1 lawyer · Est. 2019

CWM Law is a small general practice serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and the surrounding area. It handles family law, civil litigation, wills and estates, corporate law, real estate, and Landlord and Tenant Boa…

Family LawFamily LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Dhanoa Law

1 lawyer

Dhanoa Law is a full-service solo practice in Kitchener, Ontario, led by principal lawyer Invir Dhanoa. It handles real estate, wills and estates, municipal law, family law, and corporate and commercial matters, and p…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsAdministrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory LawFamily LawFamily 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

DNH Law

1 lawyer

DNH Law is a general practice in downtown Kitchener led by Darrell N. Hawreliak. Its areas include corporate and business law, real estate, civil litigation, wills, powers of attorney and estates, employment law, and …

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Drake Law

10 lawyers

Drake Law is a multi-office family law, real estate law, and wills and estates firm with its head office in London, Ontario and branch offices in Sarnia, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Oakville, Mississauga, a…

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

Duncan, Linton LLP

15 lawyers · Est. 1860

Duncan, Linton LLP is a Kitchener-Waterloo firm established in 1860, and it's one of the oldest independent law firms in the region. Its roughly 15 lawyers handle business and general legal work for clients in Kitchen…

Bankruptcy & InsolvencyBankruptcy & InsolvencyReal Estate LawReal Estate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law