Avoiding Probate in Ontario: Risks of Adding Children to Title

Videos By Jillian C. Bowman | October 9, 2026

Should you add your adult children to your property title to avoid probate in Ontario? This estate planning decision can have consequences beyond probate costs.

Jillian Bowman, a family and estates lawyer at Devry Smith Frank LLP, discusses potential risks and why legal advice matters before making changes to property ownership.

For legal assistance with estate planning, please contact Jillian Bowman by calling 249-888-4639 or by emailing jillian.bowman@devrylaw.ca.

Disclaimer: This video is not legal advice. Consult with a qualified legal professional for advice tailored to your circumstances.

← Back to Videos

img:is([sizes=auto i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px}img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important}.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}:root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square:1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3:4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4:3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2:3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3:2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9:16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16:9/16;--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#0693e3 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,#fcb900 0%,#ff6900 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,#ff6900 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small:13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20:.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30:.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40:1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50:1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60:2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70:3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80:5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural:6px 6px 9px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep:12px 12px 50px rgba(0,0,0,.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined:6px 6px 0px -3px #fff,6px 6px #000;--wp--preset--shadow--crisp:6px 6px 0px #000}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap:.5em}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap:.5em}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center}.is-layout-flex>:is(*, div){margin:0}body .is-layout-grid{display:grid}.is-layout-grid>:is(*, div){margin:0}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-term-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-term-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em}:root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important}@media screen and (max-height: 1024px){.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important}}@media screen and (max-height: 640px){.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important}}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important}.header-logo img{width:450px;margin-top:-10px}.elementor-10446 span.wpcf7-list-item{display:block}.elementor-10446 span.wpcf7-list-item.first{margin-left:8px}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px){.mobile-main-menu-container .navbar-brand{width:80%}.mobile-main-menu-container .navbar-brand>img{width:80%;margin:auto;height:auto}}@media only screen and (min-width: 570px) and (max-width: 767px){.mobile-main-menu-container .navbar-brand{margin-bottom:25px}}@media only screen and (min-width: 992px) and (max-width: 1200px){section.nd-home-hero .nd-home-hero-right{padding-top:120px}}@media only screen and (min-width: 1201px){section.nd-home-hero .nd-home-hero-right{padding-top:90px}}.menu-item-has-children>a{pointer-events:auto !important;cursor:pointer !important}h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{font-family:Vollkorn;font-weight:400;font-style:normal}body{font-family:Roboto;line-height:28px;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;color:#002d56;font-size:16px}body,.js div#preloader{background-color:#eee}.page-container{background-color:#fff}.li-header.header-style-2 .header-top{background-color:#fff}.li-header{background-color:#2b4269}.li-topbar{background-color:#fff}.li-topbar .contact-info a{color:#020202}.page-title h1,.page-title .breadcrumbs,.page-title .breadcrumbs li a{color:#fff}.li-footer .footer-copyright{background-color:#262626}.li-footer .footer-copyright{color:#fff}.footer-copyright a{color:#fff}.footer-copyright a:hover{color:#fff}.footer-copyright a:active{color:#fff}@media (min-width: 992px){nav.navbar.navbar-bottom{display:block !important}.mobile-menu-toggle{display:none !important}.mobile-nav-wrapper{display:none !important}}@media (max-width: 991px){nav.navbar.navbar-bottom{display:none !important}.mobile-menu-toggle{display:block !important}}#menu-item-3755>ul.mega_dropdown{display:none;position:absolute;left:0;right:0;width:100%;flex-wrap:wrap;flex-direction:row;background-color:#1e3a5f;border-top:2px solid #4a7db5;z-index:9999;box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.3);padding:10px 0;list-style:none;margin:0}#menu-item-3755:hover>ul.mega_dropdown{display:flex !important}#menu-item-3755>ul.mega_dropdown>div{width:20%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0 5px;vertical-align:top;display:inline-block}#menu-item-3755>ul.mega_dropdown>div>li{list-style:none;position:relative}#menu-item-3755>ul.mega_dropdown>div>li>a{display:block;color:#fff !important;font-size:13px;padding:6px 10px;text-decoration:none;line-height:1.4;white-space:normal}#menu-item-3755>ul.mega_dropdown>div>li>a:hover{background:rgba(255,255,255,.1)}ul.grand-child{position:absolute !important;left:100% !important;top:0 !important;min-width:230px;background:#1e3a5f;border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.2);z-index:10000;padding:5px 0;list-style:none;box-shadow:4px 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.35);margin-left:-1px;opacity:0;visibility:hidden;display:block !important;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .12s ease .2s,visibility 0s linear .32s}li.menu-item-has-children:hover>ul.grand-child{opacity:1 !important;visibility:visible !important;pointer-events:auto !important;transition:opacity .12s ease 0s,visibility 0s linear 0s !important}ul.grand-child li a{display:block;color:#dce8f5 !important;font-size:12px;padding:7px 16px;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap}ul.grand-child li a:hover{background:rgba(255,255,255,.1);color:#fff !important}a.has-child::after{content:" ►";font-size:9px;float:right;margin-top:3px;opacity:.7}#menu-item-3755>ul.mega_dropdown>div>li{position:relative !important}ul.first_child{display:none;position:absolute;top:100%;left:0;min-width:200px;background:#1e3a5f;border-top:2px solid #4a7db5;z-index:9999;padding:5px 0;list-style:none;box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.3)}.menu-item:hover>ul.first_child{display:block !important}ul.first_child>div{display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0 5px}ul.first_child li{display:block;list-style:none}ul.first_child li a{display:block;color:#fff !important;font-size:13px;padding:6px 12px;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap}ul.first_child li a:hover{background:rgba(255,255,255,.1)}nav.navbar.navbar-bottom,.mega_main_menu>.menu_holder,.mega_main_menu>.menu_holder>.menu_inner{overflow:visible !important}#menu-item-3755{position:static !important}.mobile-menu-toggle{display:none;background:#1e3a5f;color:#fff;border:none;padding:12px 16px;font-size:22px;cursor:pointer;width:100%;text-align:left}@media (max-width: 991px){nav.navbar.navbar-bottom{display:none}.mobile-menu-toggle{display:block}.mobile-nav-wrapper{display:none;background:#1e3a5f;width:100%}.mobile-nav-wrapper.open{display:block}.mobile-nav-wrapper ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mobile-nav-wrapper>ul>li>a{display:block;color:#fff !important;padding:12px 16px;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.1);text-decoration:none}.mobile-nav-wrapper .mobile-sub{display:none;background:rgba(0,0,0,.2)}.mobile-nav-wrapper .mobile-sub.open{display:block}.mobile-nav-wrapper .mobile-sub li a{display:block;color:#dce8f5 !important;padding:10px 16px 10px 32px;font-size:13px;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.05);text-decoration:none}.mobile-nav-wrapper .mobile-sub .mobile-sub li a{padding-left:48px;font-size:12px;color:#b0c8e0 !important}.mobile-toggle-arrow{float:right;font-size:12px;margin-top:2px;transition:transform .2s}.mobile-toggle-arrow.open{transform:rotate(180deg)}#menu-item-3755>ul.mega_dropdown>div{width:100% !important}}

LAWYER SEARCH

Locations

LAWYER SEARCH

Subscribe to the DSF Newsletter!

Locations