William Dion-Bernard, TEP

Notary, Partner

Expertise

Estates, Wills and Trusts
Family Law
Business Law
Tax
Real Estate

Language

English, French

Telephone

514 393-7494

Email

wdionbernard@rsslex.com

vCard

Download vCard

Office

Montréal

LinkedIn

 

William Dion-Bernard is a notary and partner in our Estates, Wills and Trusts Group. He works regularly with property administrators, high-net-worth individuals, and families on estate- and tax-related issues.

William has extensive expertise in estate planning, liquidation and settlement. He regularly advises his clients on Quebec civil law trusts and foreign trusts, and assists wealthy individuals in structuring gifts of substantial assets with regard to taxation. William has also advised registered charities on technical tax matters and on communications with revenue agencies.

Representative files and mandates

William’s practice focuses on asset protection, including all aspects of real estate law:

  • Trusts
  • Wills and protection mandates
  • Marriage contracts, civil unions and cohabitation agreements
  • Declarations of transmission
  • Non-contentious proceedings
  • Hypothecs and mortgages
  • Acquisitions and dispositions
  • Servitudes
  • Real estate title searches and title defect corrections

Associations

  • Canadian Bar Association:
    • Director of ABC-Québec’s Executive Committee (2017–2023)
    • Member of the Wills, Estates and Trusts section
  • Member of STEP Canada’s Education Committee (2021–present)
  • Association professionnelle des notaires du Québec (APFF)

Bulletins

Impact of COVID-19 on Estate Planning: Quebec is Ahead of the Curve

April 3, 2020

While we are witnessing the unfolding of unprecedented times, the coronavirus pandemic should also serve as a stark reminder of the importance of keeping your estate planning documents current. Although we do not presently and, perhaps will not for some time in the future, have the luxury of face-to-face personal meetings with our clients to […]

Publications and Conferences

Lecturing

  • Lecturer at McGill University’s Faculty of Law (2022–present)
  • Lecturer for the Contracts course in the Association de planification fiscale et financière’s basic law course program (2022)
  • Lecturer for Ahuntsic College’s Legal Techniques program (2012–2022)

Publications

  • “Planification successorale pour les parents devant prendre soin d’un enfant souffrant d’un handicap”, Développements récents en successions et fiducies, 534, 2023

Speaking Engagements

  • “Distribution of Trusts and Marital Claims”, STEP Canada Conference, Montreal, October 23, 2024
  • “Revue annuelle de la jurisprudence en successions, fiducies et fiscalité”, ABC-Québec, online, April 4, 2024
  • “Jurisprudence récente en matière de fiducie”,  APFF Conference on Trusts, Montreal, February 15, 2024
  • “Supernumerary Judges: Today and Tomorrow”, National Judicial Institute Conference on Estate Planning, June 22, 2023 and June 21, 2022
  • “Advising the Executor: The Lawyer’s Tax Checklist”, STEP Conference on Estate Administration, June 19, 2023
  • “Revue annuelle de la jurisprudence en successions, fiducies et fiscalité”, ABC-Québec, April 28, 2023
  • “Jurisprudence récente en matière de fiducie”, APFF Conference on Trusts, 16 février 2023
  • “Développements récents de la jurisprudence québécoise en matière de fiducies et de successions”, STEP Montreal, February 16, 2023
  • “Domicile: what is it, when does it matter & why do you care?”, STEP Canada National Conference, June 16, 2022
  • “Estate Administration”, yearly professional development seminar of the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal, June 8, 2022
  • “Rédaction de testaments sur mesure”, APFF Forum on Estate Planning and Settlement, May 12, 2022
  • “Tax and Civil Law Cases Related to Trusts”, APFF Conference on Trusts, March 24, 2022
  • “Pièges et enjeux en matière de planification successorale”, APFF continuing education activity, October 26, 2021
  • “Jurisprudence récente en matière de fiducies”, 2021 APFF Annual Conference, October 8, 2021
  • “Québec, les irréductibles civilistes: famille, succession, fiducie…”, webinar on conflicting laws, Private international law, Chambre des notaires du Grand Paris, June 28, 2021
  • “Practitioners’ Update: Trust and Estate Law”, STEP Canada National Conference, June 14, 2021
  • “Jurisprudence en matière de fiducie”, webinar on trusts, APFF, February 4, 2021
  • “Incapacité au pays et à l’étranger : défis liés aux territoires de compétence multiples”, STEP Canada Conference, October 29, 2020
  • “Étude de cas : règlement de succession”, APFF Annual Conference, October 8, 2020
  • “Practitioners’ Update: Trust and Estate Law”, STEP Canada Conference, September 17, 2020
  • “L’introduction aux droits des successions”, Canadian Bar Association, Wills, Estates and Trusts Section, February 11, 2020
  • “Développements récents en droit des fiducies”, APFF Seminar on Trusts, February 6, 2020
  • “L’utilisation de fiducies dans un contexte de planification successorale”, RSS Conference, September 4 and June 19, 2019
  • “Développements récents en droit des fiducies”, APFF Seminar on Trusts, February 5, 2019
  • “Les Revues jurisprudentielles : testaments, successions et fiducies”, Canadian Bar Association, Wills, Estates and Trusts Section, September 13, 2018
  • “Estate Trust Jurisprudence Review (Civil Law)”, STEP Conference, Montreal, May 3, 2018
  • “Démystifier les fiducies », Quebec Association of Paralegals, March 15, 2018
  • “Développements récents en droit des fiducies et des successions”, APFF Seminar on Trusts, February 8, 2018

Community Involvement

  • Secretary for Les deux mondes theatre company (2022–present)
  • Volunteer for various fundraising events
  • Volunteer for child literacy workshops

Education

Notarial Law Degree (D.D.N.)

Université de Sherbrooke

2008

Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.)

Université de Sherbrooke

2007

Professional orders

Chambre des notaires du Québec

2009