FOCA and estate lawyer Peter Lillico have been teaching families about cottage succession planning for over fifteen years.
Download an information sheet (PDF, 2 pages) about FOCA’s Cottage Succession Seminars, and sub-topics covered in the recordings – more on that, below.
New! Peter Lillico Succession Strategy Series –
Small Group Workshops Exclusively Available to FOCA Members
FOCA is excited to announce a brand-new, exclusive opportunity for FOCA member families: small group cottage succession workshops led by our long-time colleague, estate lawyer Peter Lillico for $160+HST per family.
These virtual sessions are limited to just 4 to 6 families at a time, providing direct access to Peter’s legal expertise in a more personalized and interactive setting.
Submit your family’s “Top 3 Questions” in advance, and receive a dedicated segment during the session to hear Peter’s tailored advice for your family. If your question can’t be fully addressed during the workshop, Peter has offered a 1-on-1 follow-up at no additional cost.
Interested? To help us begin planning dates, we ask that you email programs@foca.on.ca to express your interest as soon as possible. Spaces are extremely limited — don’t miss your chance to be among the first to join these unique and valuable workshops!
This initiative is made possible through Peter’s generosity, with proceeds supporting FOCA’s ongoing programs and advocacy work.
2026 Seminar Series with FOCA and Peter Lillico
Coming in the New Year! Ensure you are on our e-news list to receive advanced notice.
Registrants receive the slides after the event, but not a recording. For more on purchasing access to past recordings, see below.
Not a member, but still want to attend an upcoming cottage succession seminar? You can:
- pay the $35 non-member fee per registrant, then register using the link above.
- or, become a Friend of FOCA (our paid annual supporter category) to receive free access to all FOCA Cottage Succession events over the coming year, plus additional supporter benefits.
Completed 2025 Series Webinars:
- March 26, 2025 – TARGETING TAX: a “deeper dive” into cottage succession tax issues. This talk provides an overview of how and when capital gains tax applies; techniques to avoid, reduce or defer tax; and planning approaches to fund it.
- May 28, 2025 – COTTAGE SHARING AGREEMENTS: a “deeper dive” into one critical part of the family cottage succession plan: how a well-crafted Cottage Sharing Agreement can help your family avoid conflict and ensure a smooth transition of your shared property.
- September 10, 2025 – TRUST THE COTTAGE: protect the family legacy AND save taxes! A “deeper dive” into trust techniques and “generation skipping.”
- October 28, 2025 – STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE: The Children’s Role in Cottage Succession – family cottage succession planning is too important to leave entirely on the shoulders of one generation! This presentation provides recommendations on how the children can share the load and contribute valuably to the process.
SPECIAL new taxation recording with the experts:
US & Canadian Cottage Succession Tax Planning
April 2025 – FOCA is very pleased to release a special new recorded resource about cottage succession planning and tax implications for (1) American and (2) Canadian owners of cottage properties in Ontario. This 1.5 hour video features hundreds of dollars of deep-dive tips from the professionals: estate lawyer Peter Lillico, and Kaz Nesbitt (CPA, CA), tax planning accountant with Doane Grant Thornton LLP.
NEW: Review a short “Highlight Reel” about the recording: https://youtu.be/nE0DRE4HrkU
PRICE: $175 for members with the access code; or $250 for non-members
Purchase digital access here. Members: login below for your member discount code before checkout!
You're missing members-only content!
The offer access code is only available to members of our Member Associations & current Friends of FOCA (our annual supporters).
If you are already registered on the FOCA website, please login below with your Username and Password.
Need help with your login? Contact us for assistance during business hours. Not yet a Member Association? Find out why you should be!
ASK THE EXPERT - "Passing the Torch"
Each month, estate lawyer Peter Lillico answers a member question about cottage succession planning. Peter is the expert speaker in FOCA’s ongoing Cottage Succession Seminar Series.
October 2025 – Our next question comes from Craig W.:
“Is there capital gains at the time when one person within a Sprinkling Cottage Trust sells their share to another person in the Sprinkling Cottage Trust?”
FOCA members can login below for Peter’s response.
You're missing members-only content!
Peter's response is only available to members of our Member Associations & current Friends of FOCA (our annual supporters).
If you are already registered on the FOCA website, please login below with your Username and Password.
Need help with your login? Contact us for assistance during business hours. Not yet a Member Association? Find out why you should be!
On January 6, 2025, Justin Trudeau announced he will resign his post as Prime Minister once a new leader of the federal Liberal party is chosen. He then prorogued Parliament which will not sit again until March 24. This brings to an end all Government bills that were in progress, making it unlikely that the capital gains tax inclusion rate change announced by the Federal Government last summer will ever become law. However, the Canada Revenue Agency announced the 2024 tax forms will reflect the higher inclusion rate. Read about the complexity from the legal minds at Fasken, and be certain to get professional advice about your own tax situation.
EARLIER RELATED NEWS:
On April 16, 2024, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled a 2024 federal budget including an announcement that the capital gains tax on amounts over $250,000 will rise on or after June 25, 2024. This will negatively impact many FOCA members who sell or transfer ownership of their cottages to the next generation. FOCA sent a letter to the government in opposition to this development; read the letter and related media coverage on our Taxation webpage.
Purchase Cottage Succession Series Digital Recordings:
You can purchase access to up to five individual digital recordings of Peter Lillico’s cottage succession talks, so you can review them with your family at your leisure:
Title #1 – Cottage Succession Planning “A” to “Z” – this is the recommended introductory session that provides an overview of considerations for starting your cottage succession plan (recorded 2021)
Title #2 – Agreements Avoid Adversity – an in-depth look at considerations for creating the Cottage Sharing Agreement, one crucial step in your cottage succession process (recorded 2025)
Title #3 – Targeting Tax – an in-depth session explaining capital gains tax, and tips to reduce or defer it (recorded in March 2025 with updated tax info)
Title #4 – Trusting the Cottage – an in-depth look at trust techniques and ‘generation skipping’ (an updated session, recorded in September 2025)
Title #5 – Seize the Time or Bide your Time? – an in-depth look at choosing when to transfer the cottage to the kids (recorded in 2024 with updated tax info)
Member Pricing (with codes – see below): $50 each
Non-Member Pricing: $110 each (+ HST)
Bulk Discounts: buy 2 for $10 off; buy 3 for $20 off; buy 4 for $30 off; or buy 5 for $40 off
IMPORTANT: ANY TAX DECISIONS MADE SHOULD ALWAYS BE AFTER CONSULTATON WITH YOUR PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS TO ENSURE YOU ARE ACTING UPON CURRENT INFORMATION.
After online payment, you will receive an email with the online link(s) to view the digital video recording(s) as many times as you wish, and you may share the link(s) with your family members. NOTE: Internet is required to view the video postings.
MEMBERS: login below for the discount codes to save $60 off the regular price of each video, plus bulk purchase savings!
You're missing members-only content!
The offer access codes are only available to members of our Member Associations & current Friends of FOCA (our annual supporters).
If you are already registered on the FOCA website, please login below with your Username and Password.
Need help with your login? Contact us for assistance during business hours. Not yet a Member Association? Find out why you should be!
Please note: the following is archival material, and some links to third-party resources may no longer be active.
January 2023 – “Cottage Concerns” – a three-part series by Peter Lillico about succession planning (Peterborough Examiner) – Part 1: Sprinkling Cottage Trusts; Part 2: Cottage Sharing Agreements; Part 3: Prenuptual Agreements
June 3, 2021 – Peter Lillico quoted in: The perils of passing down the family cottage (Globe & Mail)
August 22, 2020 –Navigating the often rough waters of cottage ownership (Peterborough This Week)
Peter Lillico is quoted in this article about “What happens to our joint-owned cottage after we pass?” from Cottage Life.
June 2018 – Peter Lillico is quoted in this article: “What to know about owning a cottage with friends or family,” Times Colonist.
Peter is also the backbone of this article: “How to hand down your cottage while keeping the peace and saving money,” Cottage Life, by Penny Caldwell.
“4 different ways families approached cottage succession,” Cottage Life, by Penny Caldwell.
Sept.2015 – Read this article about FOCA’s Cottage Succession Seminar series with estate lawyer Peter Lillico (source: My Kawartha)
