Overview
Jennifer Corak advises Canadian and international clients on a wide range of estate and trust matters, including Will and probate planning, taxation in relation to estates and trusts, planning with inter vivos trusts, incapacity planning, and estate administration. She has particular experience with cross-border and international estate planning, including dealing with high and ultra-high net worth individuals with assets in multiple jurisdictions, individuals who are nationals and/or tax residents of jurisdictions other than Canada, and clients with beneficiaries in foreign jurisdictions. Jennifer’s practice also involves succession planning for closely-held businesses, planning for individuals with complex family situations, including blended families, and disability planning.
Jennifer’s experience in estate, trust and business succession planning matters includes:
Estate Planning: drafting of Wills, trusts and powers of attorney for property and personal care for high net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and professionals.
Business Succession Planning: administration and dissolution of trusts and estates and issues relating to the proper conduct and management of trust assets by fiduciaries.
Jennifer is qualified as a Trust and Estate Practitioner by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”), and was the 2018 recipient of the Award for the Highest Mark in the STEP Canada Law of Trust Course. Jennifer enjoys writing and speaking on topics related to estates and trusts law, is the editor of Miller Thomson’s publication, Wealth Matters, is an Assistant Editor of Thomson Reuter’s publication, Miller Thomson on Estate Planning, and serves on the editorial board of the Federated Press journal Personal Tax and Estate Planning. She also serves on the Elder Law Section Executive of the Ontario Bar Association and the Trusts and Estates Section Execution of the Ontario Bar Association.
Professional achievements & leadership
- The Best Lawyers in Canada: Ones to Watch – Trusts and Estates Law, 2022
- Recipient, Award for Highest Mark in Law of Trusts Course, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Canada, 2018
Thought leadership
Presentations
- Speaker, “Case Comment on the Ontario Case of Tanti v Tanti“, The Estate Planning Council of Toronto (EPCT), April 6, 2021
- Co-Presenter, “The Sale and Succession of the Private Corporation: Choice Tax and Estate Planning Issues” 2 part webinar, The Peel Halton Advocis Chapter, May 1, 2020 and May 8, 2020
- Co-Presenter, “Crossing Borders: The “Tips” and “Traps” of Cross-Border Estate Planning”, Mississauga Estate Planning Council, February 10, 2020
- Panelist, “Estate Administration Panel” at CAGP Greater Toronto Area Chapter’s Half Day Summit, For the Love of Gift Planning, January 23, 2020
- Presenter, “Case Comment: The Case of Bayford v Boese” at STEP Toronto’s Common Estate Planning Slips event, November 13, 2019
- Presenter, Mississauga Public Library and Ontario Bar Association’s Make-a-Will Month Presentation, Mississauga Central Library, November 15, 2018
- Presenter, Mississauga Public Library and Ontario Bar Association’s Make-a-Will Month Presentation, Mississauga Valley Library, November 13, 2018
- Co-Presenter, “Estate and Succession Planning”, Wolters Kluwer Sale of a Business Seminar Series, October 31, 2018 and November 1, 2018
- Presenter, Toronto Public Library and Ontario Bar Association’s Make-a-Will Month Presentation, Mimico Centennial Branch, November 21, 2017
- Presenter, Toronto Public Library and Ontario Bar Association’s Make-a-Will Month Presentation, Jane/Dundas Branch, November 4, 2017
- Presenter, “End of Life Planning – Part 2 – The Legalities” held by Fairlawn Avenue United Church, April 20, 2016
Publications
- Co-author, “The Importance of Considering Intellectual Property During the Estate Planning and Estate Administration Process: A Primer”, Taxes & Wealth Management, Issue 12-2, June 2019
- Daniel Estate (Re): A “Good News’ Story”, Wealth Matters, May 2019
- Co-author, Chapter 11 “Income Splitting, The Tax on Split Income (“TOSI”) and the Attribution Rules” in Miller Thomson on Estate Planning, (Thomson Reuters Looseleaf), 2018
- “Donating Wine and Determining Fair Market Value”, Taxes and Wealth Management, Issue 11-3, October 2018
- Co-Author, “The Administration of Testamentary Trusts – Selected Issues and Considerations for Trustees”, Paper prepared for Law Society of Ontario Administration of Trusts and Estates Seminar, September 21, 2018
- Surviving Spouse Granted Extention of Time to Decide Whether to Make Spousal Election, Wealth Matters, June 2018
- The Importance Of Asking “What if” During The Estate Planning Process – Common Disaster Clauses, Mondaq, August 1, 2017
- December 2016 Amendments To The Business Corporations Act (Ontario) – Part 2, Mondaq, July 27, 2017
- The Importance Of Your Power Of Attorney For Personal Care, Mondaq, July 26, 2017
- Post-Humous Conception And Estates Law – Who Are Your Descendants?, Mondaq, July 26, 2017
Community involvement
- Member, Canadian Croatian Choral Society
Professional memberships
- Technology Liaison, Elder Law Section Executive, Ontario Bar Association, 2019 – 2021
- Member at Large, Elder Law Section Executive, Ontario Bar Association, 2018 – 2019
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
- Ontario Bar Association
- Canadian Bar Association
- Junior Trusts and Estates Practitioners (JTEP)
- Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP)
- Canadian Tax Foundation
Languages spoken
- English
- Croatian
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario Bar, 2013
- J.D., University of Windsor Faculty of Law, 2012
- B. Sc. (Hons), University of Toronto, 2009
