Why We Built WealthShieldCanada

The Problem We Saw

Most Canadians only discover asset protection after a lawsuit is filed, a divorce is announced, or a CRA reassessment lands. By then, any transfer of property is vulnerable to reversal as a fraudulent conveyance under provincial Fraudulent Conveyances Acts and the federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The Supreme Court of Canada confirmed in Ramgotra (SCC 1996) that the intent to defeat creditors need not be the sole purpose of a transfer for a court to set it aside. The window for legitimate planning closes the moment a creditor claim becomes reasonably foreseeable. The people who face the harshest consequences are almost always the ones who built the most.

What WealthShieldCanada Is

WealthShieldCanada is a Canadian public legal education resource covering the ten primary asset protection strategies recognized under Canadian federal and provincial law: business incorporation and holding company structures, discretionary and alter ego family trusts, registered accounts, life insurance and segregated fund contracts, marriage contracts, estate freezes, and offshore trust structures. Every strategy is explained through its governing statute, the leading Canadian case law interpreting it, and the specific circumstances in which it succeeds or fails.

The content on this site is written for the Canadian business owner, professional, or pre-retiree who has accumulated meaningful assets and who needs to understand how Canadian law protects those assets before any dispute arises. It is not written for lawyers, and it does not assume prior legal knowledge. Every legal term is defined the first time it appears. Every claim is backed by a primary source.

Our Editorial Standard

Every article on WealthShieldCanada cites at least one of the following: a Supreme Court of Canada or provincial appellate decision, a federal or provincial statute, or a Canada Revenue Agency administrative position. We do not cite secondary commentary as authority. The five core decisions that appear most frequently throughout this site are Ramgotra (SCC 1996) on fraudulent conveyance intent, Iskenderov (2023 ONCA 528) on limitation periods for fraudulent conveyance claims, Resendes v Maciel (2026) on sham trust doctrine, Hartshorne v Hartshorne (2004 SCC 22) on marriage contract enforceability, and Antle v The Queen (2010 FCA 280) on offshore trust validity.

Canadian asset protection law changes through new court decisions, legislative amendments, and CRA administrative positions. We update articles when the law changes in a material way. Every article shows its last updated date. For the current status of any legal position, always verify with a qualified Canadian lawyer in your province.

Who Uses This Resource

The primary audience for WealthShieldCanada is Canadians with net worth above $500,000 who face one or more of the following risk categories: professional liability exposure (physicians, lawyers, accountants, engineers, contractors), business credit and trade creditor risk, marriage breakdown risk where a significant portion of net worth is held in a private corporation, CRA collection risk from a business or investment dispute, or generational wealth transfer goals where the 21-year deemed disposition rule and probate fees need to be planned around. The strategies covered on this site are most relevant to Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, which are the three provinces with the highest concentration of asset protection disputes in Canadian court records.

How to Use This Site

Start with the Services page for an overview of all ten strategies and which life situations each addresses. Then read the blog articles covering the strategies most relevant to your situation. Each article is self-contained and designed to give you the foundational knowledge needed to have an informed conversation with your lawyer and accountant. The free exposure assessment on the Contact page helps identify which strategies apply to your province, asset mix, and life stage based on your answers. That assessment is not legal advice. It is a starting point for professional planning.

Important Disclosure

WealthShieldCanada is a public legal education resource. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Reading any content on this site does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Asset protection strategies are fact-specific and jurisdiction-specific. The strategies described on this site may produce different outcomes depending on your province, your specific facts, and the timing of implementation relative to any known or anticipated creditor claims. Always consult a qualified Canadian lawyer experienced in debtor-creditor law, trust law, and estate planning before implementing any strategy described on this site. Always consult a chartered professional accountant for advice on the tax consequences.