Estate Planning

Thoughtful estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take for the people you love. At AMH Law, we prepare Wills, Codicils, Powers of Attorney for Property, and Powers of Attorney for Personal Care tailored to your individual circumstances and family situation. We also advise on Guardianship arrangements and work with trusted partners on Estate Tax Planning to help preserve your assets for the people and causes that matter to you.

Whether your estate is straightforward or complex — including cross-border assets or beneficiaries in other countries — we will guide you through the process clearly and without unnecessary delay.

AMH Law provides practical legal support to small and medium-sized businesses at every stage of their lifecycle. Our corporate services include provincial and federal incorporation, business name registration, preparation of shareholder and partnership agreements, by-laws, resolutions, share certificates, and corporate filings. We also advise on maintaining corporate records and professional corporation status.

For clients with business interests in Latin America, we offer access to our network of trusted correspondents in Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain, and Venezuela — enabling us to support transactions and corporate structures that span multiple jurisdictions.

Disputes involving estates and trusts are among the most emotionally charged legal matters a family can face. AMH Law represents clients in a wide range of estate litigation matters before the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario), including contested Wills, claims by dependants, removal of estate trustees, passing of accounts, disputes between co-trustees, and Notices of Objection to Certificate of Appointment.

Our approach combines procedural precision with an understanding that the people involved are often grieving, exhausted, and under significant pressure. We work to resolve matters efficiently — through negotiation where possible, and through litigation when necessary.

May 16, 2023, Canada joined the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, A.K.A. the Apostille convention. The changes this brought were made effective January 11, 2024. What this means for you is that, rather than getting your public documents legalised and authenticated by the country it is designated for, if that country is one of the 124 countries in the Convention, your documents can be authenticated by select government agencies here in Canada and they will be recognized in any of those countries.

For any documents issued by the Canadian government, you can still go to Global Affairs Canada to get an apostille certificate. For any private document or anything issued by the government of Ontario, such as the following, Official Document Service is responsible: 

• Birth certificates;

• Business registry documents;

• Certificates of divorce or other documents provided by the Superior Court of Justice or Ontario Court of Justice;

• Ontario-issued postsecondary degrees, diplomas and transcripts.

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Our specialty at AMH Law is helping the Spanish speaking community and that includes these new changes to the authentication process. Documents originating in Ontario in a language other than English or French need to have a notarized translation to accompany them to be certified for use in other countries; a service that, for Spanish speakers, we are happy to offer in-house. For those who want their documents in another language, we can find a translator to get your documents certified, guaranteed.

When someone passes away, their estate often requires formal legal steps before assets can be distributed. AMH Law advises executors and estate trustees through the full administration process, including applying for a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee (with or without a Will), collecting and valuing estate assets, managing creditors, preparing estate accounts, and making distributions to beneficiaries.

We also assist clients dealing with estates that have a cross-border dimension, including assets or beneficiaries in Latin America or other jurisdictions.

Ana María Hicks is a commissioned Notary Public in Ontario, authorized to notarize documents, administer oaths, swear affidavits and statutory declarations, and witness, attest, and authenticate the execution of a wide range of documents. These services are available to individuals and businesses requiring notarization for use in Ontario, across Canada, or internationally.

AMH Law assists clients with residential and commercial real estate transactions across Ontario, including purchases, sales, refinancing, and title transfers. We provide clear, timely legal advice to buyers, sellers, and lenders, and coordinate with real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and other parties to ensure your transaction closes smoothly.

We are particularly well-positioned to assist clients whose real estate matters have a cross-border element — for example, non-resident purchasers, clients with properties in Latin America, or transactions involving foreign corporations.