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www.canadianlawyermag.com 49 METHODOLOGY In June, Canadian Lawyer asked readers from across Canada to vote on the wills, estates, and trust boutiques. They were asked to rank their top firms from a preliminary list, with a chance to nominate a firm that was not included. To be considered in the vote, firms were required to have the majority of their business come from their work from wills, trusts, and estate law. The final rankings were determined through a points system in which firms were rewarded on a sliding scale for the number of votes by ranking. The quantitative results were combined with the Lexpert peer survey results, where applicable, along with feedback from respected senior members of the bar and regional diversity considerations. 47 percent lack a power of attorney for personal or medical care. These gaps leave families exposed to financial and emotional turmoil, while also underscoring the demand for professional guidance. Other key findings include: • 91 percent say they are confident their executor will have the skills and time to carry out the role. • 63 percent acknowledge it's emotion- ally difficult to be the executor of an estate. • 62 percent have named their spouse or child as executor, opening the door to uneasy family dynamics. Succession and demographic forces Succession and demographic forces are reshaping the practice of wills, trusts, and estates, according to STEP's 2025 Attitudes to Wealth survey. A significant intergenerational wealth transfer is underway, fuelling demand for legal expertise that manages both assets and family expectations. Most clients aim to pass on their wealth to family, prioritizing financial security for future generations, though a minority seek to limit wealth accumulation or give everything away. However, communication between wealth creators and beneficiaries often falters due to privacy concerns, fear of entitlement, or a desire to avoid conflict, and many practitioners see a need for more education around trusts to support succession and continuity. Making its debut on the Top 10 list this year is Toronto's Fern Law, recognized for its balanced approach to the tensions of modern succession planning while also guiding fami- lies through the disputes that can follow. Partner and founder Kristine Anderson, with over 20 years of courtroom experience, explains, "We focus on achieving outcomes and crafting a solution that is fair to our clients and is one that everyone can live with, rather than a scorched earth approach to litigation. This means we are not the right fit for some clients who want to take a bulldog approach." Blended families and fairness across generations Blended families present significant challenges in estate planning, say Anderson and the Fern Law team. Stepchildren, competing loyalties, and obligations from prior relationships can complicate decisions, and even the drafting stage requires care. "You have to be extremely careful about using words like 'children' or 'issue' in the will as you may be inadvertently leaving out stepchildren or step-grandchildren." Estate planning in these situations demands deep, candid conversations to balance the expectations of all family members and legal obligations to former spouses. Powers of attorney can also be contentious, especially when biological children may resent supporting a second spouse. "Unfortunately, we see too many situations where the second spouse has to beg for support or has to litigate the issue. This could be prevented with a clearly articulated estate plan." Another growing trend is parents loaning money to children, which raises questions about whether to forgive those loans or adjust inheritances later. These scenarios underscore the sensitive calculations required for fair succession planning. Guiding clients through difficult choices Succession planning raises stark questions for families with young children. Anderson says many parents struggle most with deciding who would become guardian if both parents died together. She guides them past this hurdle by explaining that naming someone in the will is not set in stone and will still be subject to court oversight. The courts apply the best- interest-of-the-child principle, which gives families flexibility if circumstances change. Anderson herself also represents a distinct group of clients – successful, single women without children or partners. "These clients struggle with deciding whom to leave their estate," she says. "I meet clients where they are, and we work through several scenarios with real numbers until we land on a scenario that feels right. Respecting their process is part of the client service." Litigation with empathy and practicality Litigation is a major part of Fern Law's prac- tice, but the team's approach resists unneces- "We are litigators, so we love going to court, but rushing off to court is not the solution to every problem" Kristine Anderson, Fern Law