Ask MoneyTalk
By TD Wealth
May 12th, 2026
One widely shared social post says putting “everything you own” into a Trust could bypass probate, leaving more funds for your kids when passing on your estate. But that advice is far from universal.
Monique Shebbeare, Tax and Estate Planner at TD Wealth, explains why Trusts are useful in specific cases and what potential costs, tax implications and other consequences Canadians should weigh before focusing solely on probate.
Ask MoneyTalk answers a question sparked by a post which has been making the rounds on social media for months. It reads, “Before you pass away, remove your children as the beneficiaries for everything that you own. Put all of your assets you own in a Trust, and then make your kids the beneficiaries of that Trust. Your children can bypass what is called the probate period.” The original source of that post is unknown.
