Peter Zachar

First Year of Call
Ontario, 2021

Areas of Practice
Estate Planning

Description
Peter is motivated by giving his clients peace of mind that their legacies are protected. His focus is on:

Estate planning, including strategies for structuring and minimizing taxation of inheritances
Drafting Wills, Powers of Attorney, and living trusts
Estate administration, including applications for a certificate of appointment of estate trustee with or without a will
Advising executors, trustees, and beneficiaries of their rights and obligations
Helping families plan for their children with special needs, including seeking legal guardianship, applying for the disability tax credit, and estate planning to preserve government benefits
He previously worked at a firm specializing in estate planning strategies for families with children that have special needs, including the use of testamentary and living Henson Trusts, and Lifetime Benefit Trusts.

Peter studied law at the University of Ottawa and articled in civil litigation with a focus on estate matters. While at the University of Ottawa, he was involved with several research projects using data science and machine learning to analyze what makes legal documents complex. Before becoming a lawyer, Peter completed his PhD in neuroscience and worked as a research associate at the National Research Council studying cellular mechanisms of chronic pain.

When he’s not in the office, Peter plays the drums, records musicians and podcasts in his studio, flies racing drones, and spends time with his young family. Over the years, he has also given back to the community by volunteering with Special Olympics Ontario and the Viennese Winter Ball.