July 2026

Co-ownership Agreements: Another Tool in the Planner’s Toolkit

• • 0 Comments

I wrote last summer about the use of cottage trusts as a planning tool. As cottage season is upon us again, I thought I’d write about another useful tool in the planner’s toolkit, particularly where several members of a generation are likely to share ownership of a cottage property: the co-ownership agreement. While it’s important to consider the mechanics of transferring a family property to the next generation, it’s equally….

Co-ownership Agreements: Another Tool in the Planner’s Toolkit Continue Reading »

Cottage, Estate Planning, Property, Real Estate, Succession Planning, Trusts

Caregivers struggle with Hospital ER Crisis

• • 0 Comments
adults in a emergency department waiting room facing the counter with a screen above showing wait times

Emergency room physicians across Canada are ringing alarm bells about the continuing crisis in hospital emergency room (ER) wait times. For older Canadians, the emergency department is the main way they receive urgent care and for admission to a hospital bed. In its June 2026 report, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) documents, discusses, and provides insights into the ER wait-time crisis and its causes. Many older clients may….

Caregivers struggle with Hospital ER Crisis Continue Reading »

Caregiving, Elder Management, Healthcare

Choosing the Right Estate Trustee: When Poor Administration Comes at a Cost

• • 0 Comments

This blog post was written by Mohena Singh, Associate at Fasken LLP. A recent Ontario Superior Court decision, Flowers v. Flowers, 2026 ONSC 3524, serves as a reminder that one of the most important decisions in any estate plan is the selection of an estate trustee. While many testators instinctively appoint a trusted child or family member, the role carries significant legal responsibilities. When those responsibilities are ignored, the consequences….

Choosing the Right Estate Trustee: When Poor Administration Comes at a Cost Continue Reading »

Estate Administration, Executors, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee Compensation

Letters of Wishes When Judgment Is in Question

• • 1 Comment
Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Mario Gravel, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Ottawa   Clients are increasingly raising concerns about beneficiaries who may be vulnerable to misinformation, undue influence, or online fraud. In trust planning, that raises a practical and uncomfortable question: how can a trustee exercise discretion responsibly when a beneficiary’s judgment may be compromised, while still balancing that beneficiary’s needs against the interests of others? This is….

Letters of Wishes When Judgment Is in Question Continue Reading »

Wills
Scroll to Top