Lawyer Profile
Melanie A. Yach
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
Melanie is a dedicated expert in estates and trusts law. Her personal approach and genuine desire to understand her clients’ individual circumstances allow Melanie to provide strategic, tailored advice. She is focused on providing practical solutions that address her clients' personal and financial needs.
A member of the Trusts & Estates Group and Co-Leader of the Estate Litigation Group, Melanie's practice covers all areas of estates and trusts, including estate planning and estate administration, with a particular focus on litigation involving trusts, estates and capacity issues. She also has many years of experience in corporate/commercial litigation. Melanie’s practice extends beyond representing individuals and families to advising trust companies. She also serves as a third-party mediator in estates, trusts and/or capacity disputes.
As a frequent speaker and writer on estates and trusts topics, Melanie presents at, and sometimes chairs, programs for professional and educational organizations, including the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Bar Association and The Advocates' Society. She served as editor of and contributor to Key Developments in Trusts and Estates Law, which was published annually by Canada Law Book for more than a decade. Melanie is active in the community, serving as a director of the Benefaction Foundation and past-director and advisor to the Toronto Council on Aging.
Speaker, "Practitioners' Update: Canadian Trust and Estate Law," STEP Canada 28th National Conference, June 1-2, 2026.
Chair, "End-of-Life Decision Making: MAiD and Estate Planning," Lincoln Alexander Law PD Program, April 16, 2026.
Speaker, "…Live and Let Die: Legislative Developments on Assisted Dying," STEP Bermuda Conference, October 16-17, 2025.
Chair & Speaker, "End-of-Life Decision Making: MAiD and Estate Planning," Toronto Metropolitan University, April 4, 2025.
Panellist, "New Character Alert: The Rise of Arbitration," The Advocates' Society – Mediation and Arbitration: Transforming Estates Law, December 2, 2024.
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 1993 (ON)