A living trust form, formally known as an inter vivos trust agreement in Canadian law, is a legal instrument that allows a person (the settlor) to transfer ownership of assets to a trustee during their lifetime, to be managed and eventually distributed to designated beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust. Unlike a testamentary trust created through a last will and testament, a living trust takes effect immediately upon execution and funding, providing the settlor with a mechanism for asset management, estate planning, and potential probate avoidance.

Canadian trust law is rooted in English common law principles and requires the three certainties for a valid trust to exist: certainty of intention (the settlor clearly intends to create a trust relationship), certainty of subject matter (the trust property is identifiable and ascertainable), and certainty of objects (the beneficiaries can be identified). These requirements have been consistently upheld by Canadian courts and form the foundation of trust validity in all common law provinces.

Provincial Trustee Acts govern the administration of trusts across Canada, with each province having its own legislation. The Ontario Trustee Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. T.23), the British Columbia Trustee Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 464), and the Alberta Trustee Act (R.S.A. 2000, c. T-8) establish the framework for trustee duties, investment powers, and administrative requirements. In Quebec, trusts are governed by the Civil Code of Quebec, arts. 1260-1370, which establishes a unique civil law framework where a trust is treated as a patrimony by appropriation rather than a common law trust relationship.

From a tax perspective, inter vivos trusts in Canada are subject to the Income Tax Act (ITA). Retained income is taxed at the top marginal rate under ITA s.122(1), and the trust must file a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return annually with the Canada Revenue Agency. The critical 21-year deemed disposition rule under ITA s.104(4) requires trust property to be deemed disposed of at fair market value every 21 years, a provision that distinguishes Canadian trust taxation from many other jurisdictions and requires careful long-term tax planning.

A Canadian living trust form is needed in numerous estate planning and asset management scenarios. The most common reason Canadians establish living trusts is probate avoidance. When a person dies, assets held in their personal name must pass through the provincial probate process, which involves court supervision, public disclosure of the estate's value, and payment of probate fees. In Ontario, the Estate Administration Tax under the Estate Administration Tax Act, 1998 can be substantial for larger estates, charging $15 per $1,000 on estate value exceeding $50,000. A properly funded living trust removes assets from the probate estate entirely.

Living trusts are essential for incapacity planning. If the settlor becomes mentally incapacitated, the trustee (or successor trustee) can seamlessly continue managing trust assets without the need for a court-appointed guardian of property. This provides uninterrupted financial management and avoids the costs and delays of guardianship proceedings under provincial legislation such as Ontario's Substitute Decisions Act, 1992.

Parents and grandparents frequently use living trusts to establish structured distributions for children or grandchildren, ensuring that assets are managed responsibly until the beneficiaries reach a specified age or milestone. This is particularly valuable for families with minor children, as it provides a comprehensive management framework that goes beyond what a simple will can offer.

Business owners and professionals use living trusts for succession planning, placing business interests in trust to ensure continuity of operations and facilitate orderly transfer to the next generation. Family trusts can also be used for income splitting strategies, although the tax on split income (TOSI) rules under ITA s.120.4 have significantly limited the tax benefits of income splitting through trusts since their expansion in 2018.

Individuals concerned about protecting assets from potential creditors, family law claims, or a beneficiary's poor financial judgment include spendthrift provisions in the trust to prevent beneficiaries from assigning or encumbering their interest. This protection can be particularly important for beneficiaries in high-risk professions, unstable relationships, or those with addiction or financial management issues.

A comprehensive Canadian living trust form must contain several essential components to be legally valid and practically effective. The document must clearly identify the settlor (the person creating the trust), the trustee (the person or corporation managing the trust property), and all beneficiaries (the persons who will benefit from the trust). The governing province must be specified, as trust administration is governed by the applicable provincial Trustee Act or, in Quebec, the Civil Code.

The trust type must be designated as either revocable (the settlor retains the power to amend or terminate the trust) or irrevocable (the settlor permanently relinquishes control). This distinction has critical tax and legal consequences. The trust property (often listed in a Schedule A) must be described with sufficient certainty, and the settlor must actually transfer legal title to the trustee. Real property requires properly executed and registered transfer documents, and financial accounts must be retitled in the name of the trust.

Beneficiary designations must identify primary and contingent beneficiaries and specify the distribution schedule, including timing, conditions, and the manner of distribution. A survivorship clause requiring beneficiaries to survive the settlor by a specified number of days prevents assets from passing through two estates in quick succession. Provisions for contingent beneficiaries address what happens if a primary beneficiary predeceases the settlor.

Trustee powers must be explicitly stated, including investment authority (subject to the Prudent Investor Rule codified in provincial Trustee Acts), the power to sell and acquire property, borrowing authority, the power to employ professional advisors, and the authority to make tax elections. The trust must address trustee compensation, succession of trusteeship, and the mechanism for trustee resignation and removal.

Tax provisions are critical and must address the annual T3 filing requirement, the 21-year deemed disposition rule under ITA s.104(4), and the trust's mandatory December 31 taxation year-end for inter vivos trusts under ITA s.249(1)(b). Spendthrift provisions, incapacity management clauses, pet care provisions, and notarial acknowledgment blocks (particularly important in Quebec) round out a thorough living trust document.