Creditor Protection Strategies for Canadians Who Have Too Much to Lose.

Legal asset protection must be in place before a creditor claim arises. Courts cannot unwind what was never legally yours. We help Canadians build that structure now.

Timing is everything under Canadian law. A transfer made after a creditor claim arises will be set aside as a fraudulent conveyance. Protection must come first.

10+ Legal Strategies

Covering all major Canadian asset classes

Backed by Canadian Case Law

SCC decisions from Ramgotra to Resendes 2026

CRA Compliant

Every strategy works within Canada's tax framework

Protection Strategies

Ten Legal Shields Available to Canadians

Each strategy protects different assets from different threats. The most effective plans layer several together.

Incorporation

Business incorporation creates a separate legal person under Canadian corporate law. The corporation owns the business assets and owes the business debts, leaving the shareholder's personal property generally beyond the reach of corporate creditors, provided no personal guarantee has been signed and the corporate veil is respected.

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Alter Ego Trust

An alter ego trust is a Canadian inter vivos trust available to a settlor aged 65 or older. The settlor transfers property to the trust on a tax-deferred rollover basis, retains all income and the use of the property for life, and removes the assets from future creditor claims and from the estate at death.

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Family Trust

A discretionary family trust holds property for a class of beneficiaries who have no fixed entitlement. Because no beneficiary owns a legal or vested interest in the trust assets, those assets cannot be seized by any individual beneficiary's creditors. Distributions are made entirely at the trustee's discretion.

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Life Insurance

A life insurance policy issued by a Canadian insurer is exempt from seizure in bankruptcy when a member of the protected family class (spouse, child, grandchild, parent) is named as beneficiary. The cash surrender value and the death benefit both fall within the exemption under provincial insurance legislation.

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Seg Funds

Segregated fund contracts are issued by life insurance companies and qualify as insurance products under provincial law. When a family class beneficiary is named, the contract value is exempt from seizure by the contract holder's creditors, providing the investment growth of mutual funds with the protection of life insurance.

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Annuities / RRIF

Annuity contracts issued by a Canadian life insurer with a named family class beneficiary qualify for the same provincial insurance act protection as life insurance. RRIFs converted from protected RRSPs retain their statutory exemption from creditor seizure in most Canadian provinces.

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Registered Accounts

RRSPs are protected from seizure in bankruptcy under federal law in every Canadian province, except for contributions made in the twelve months before bankruptcy. TFSAs receive creditor protection in Alberta and a few other provinces but not in Ontario or British Columbia. RDSPs receive strong protection in most provinces.

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Marriage Contract

A marriage contract, signed with full financial disclosure and independent legal advice for each spouse, can exclude specific assets, gifts, inheritances, or business interests from the net family property pool. Properly drafted contracts are enforceable in every Canadian province and shield identified property from equalization on marriage breakdown.

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Holdco / PPSA

A holding company structure separates the operating risks of a business from its accumulated value. By having the holding company lend to the operating company and register a perfected PPSA security interest, the holding company becomes a secured creditor ranking ahead of unsecured judgment creditors of the operating company.

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Estate Freeze

An estate freeze exchanges the business owner's common shares for fixed-value preferred shares while new common shares are issued to a family trust. The owner's personal exposure to creditors is capped at the frozen preferred share value, and all future business growth accrues to the trust beyond creditor reach.

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The Process

A Protection Plan Built Before the Threat Arrives

1

Exposure Review

We map every asset you hold and every liability category you face: business, professional, family law, tax.

2

Strategy Design

We identify which of the ten protection strategies apply to your asset profile, province, and stage of life.

3

Implementation

Structures are put in place before any claim arises. Timing is the most legally critical factor in the entire plan.

4

Annual Review

Laws change, circumstances change, and new strategies emerge. Your protection plan is reviewed every year.

Real Scenarios

What Happens When Protection Is and Is Not in Place

Unprotected

The Caterer Who Lost Her Home

Maria ran a catering business as a sole proprietor. A $500,000 food poisoning lawsuit went to judgment. Her personal savings, vehicle, and home were all reachable. She lost them.

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Protected

The Same Caterer, Five Years Later

After incorporating, the next lawsuit hit the corporation only. Maria's personal assets, her new home, RRSP, and savings, were untouchable. The corporate veil held.

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Educational Resources

Understand Your Options Before You Need Them

TRUSTS

How to Set Up a Trust in Canada: The Complete Guide to Family Trusts for Asset Protection

A family trust can place assets beyond the reach of a beneficiary's creditors. But structure and timing determine everything. Here is what Canadian law actually requires.

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BUSINESS

Estate Freeze Canada: How Business Owners Lock In Asset Value Before a Creditor Can Touch Future Growth

An estate freeze caps your creditor exposure at today's business value. The future appreciation goes to a family trust your creditors cannot reach.

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Find Out Which of Your Assets Are Currently Exposed

A free exposure assessment identifies your risk profile and the strategies that apply to your province, asset mix, and life stage. No obligation.

This does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Educational purposes only.