Haute Couture Planning

What Valentino can teach us about Trusts, Privacy, and Estate planning

By Apeksha Jain

In fashion, Valentino Garavani is synonymous with precision, longevity, and restraint. His designs are instantly recognizable, yet his personal affairs have always remained notably private. That same philosophy — deliberate, tailored, and discreet — offers a powerful lesson for estate planning, where trusts are often the cornerstone of sophisticated and effective plans.

While public figures are frequently associated with contested estates and sensational litigation, Valentino’s long-standing approach reflects a different reality: the most successful estate plans rarely make headlines at all.

Planning Before the Final Stitch

One of the defining features of effective estate planning is timing. Trusts created during a person’s lifetime — inter vivos trusts — allow planning to occur while the settlor is alive, capable, and fully engaged in decision-making.

Valentino stepped back from active fashion design years ago, yet his name, legacy, and personal assets have continued to be managed with continuity and control. This mirrors the rationale behind many Ontario trust structures, where planning is done well before incapacity or death, rather than relying solely on testamentary documents.

A proactive approach to your estate plan can:

• Minimize uncertainty for beneficiaries;
• Allow trustees to act immediately upon incapacity or death; and
• Reduce reliance on court oversight

Why Trusts Matter in Ontario Estate Planning

Trusts play a particularly important role estate planning, especially for clients who value privacy, control, and long-term planning.

Unlike wills, which are typically subject to probate, estate administration taxes and become public documents once a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee is issued, trusts can operate outside the probate process. For high-profile individuals — and increasingly for private families — this distinction is critical.

Ontario trusts are commonly used to:

• Avoid or reduce Estate Administration Tax;
• Preserve confidentiality around asset values and beneficiaries;
• Provide structured distributions over time; and
• Protect assets from family law claims or creditor exposure

In estates involving intellectual property, businesses, or investment portfolios — much like the brand and artistic legacy associated with Valentino — trusts ensure continuity without interruption.

Discretion as a Design Feature

Valentino’s public silence around his personal estate is not accidental; it reflects intentional design. Trusts allow settlors to embed discretion directly into the planning structure.

In Ontario, discretionary trusts allow trustees to:

• Respond to beneficiaries’ changing circumstances;
• Address tax planning opportunities year by year; and
• Protect vulnerable beneficiaries without rigid entitlements

This flexibility is particularly valuable for blended families, entrepreneurial clients, or parents planning for children who may not be ready — or able — to manage a direct inheritance.

Beyond Wealth: Trusts as Legacy Vehicles

Trusts can be structured to fund charitable initiatives, preserve art or cultural assets, and maintain family values over generations. So, estate planning using trusts can focus on legacy, not just asset transfer.

Valentino’s enduring influence is not confined to financial success; it is tied to aesthetic vision, craftsmanship, and philanthropy. Trusts allow Ontario clients to articulate similar intentions — ensuring that assets are used in a way that reflects personal priorities, rather than default statutory outcomes.

The Takeaway: Tailored Planning Endures

Just as couture is tailored, effective estate planning in Ontario is never one-size-fits-all. The lesson drawn from Valentino’s discreet approach is not about scale or celebrity — it is about intentional design.

A thoughtfully drafted trust can:

• Reduce disputes and litigation;
• Protect beneficiaries;
• Maintain privacy; and
• Ensure continuity across generations

In practice, the most successful estates share one common trait: they are planned quietly, carefully, and well in advance.

In estate planning, as in fashion, true sophistication often lies in what is never seen.

Contact Apeksha Jain (ajain@sorbaralaw.com) to assist with your trusts estate planning needs.