The Most Expensive Funeral I’ve Arranged—and the Cheapest: Things Every Executor and Testator Should Know About Funeral Costs

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Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Jo-Anne Stark, Practice Lead, Scotiatrust Western Region   One of the first responsibilities many executors face is arranging a funeral. It is often an emotionally charged task that must be completed quickly, sometimes with limited guidance from the deceased and before estate funds are readily available. As a result, the cost of a funeral can come as a surprise to both families and executors…..

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Estate Planning, Executors, Funeral Planning

What Happens When a Will is Missing an Important Clause?: Lessons From Kentros v. Kentros

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A will is intended to provide clear instructions about the distribution of a person’s property after death. But what happens when an important clause is missing? This issue was considered in Kentros v. Kentros, 2026 ONCA 546. This case is a useful reminder of the difficulties that can arise when a will does not accurately reflect a testator’s intentions and raises important questions about the limits of a court’s ability….

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Estate Administration, Wills

But Google Says… The Executor’s Guide to Late-Night Googling

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Accepting an appointment as executor is a bit like agreeing to assemble a complicated piece of furniture without realizing the instructions are 300 pages long, several pieces are missing, and everyone in the family has a different opinion about how it should be assembled. Most executors begin the process feeling confident and optimistic. They are organized. They are capable. They have a plan. A few months later, they are searching….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Executors

Social and Personal Giving

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There is a charity fundraising truism that says “you don’t get money unless you ask for it”. But estate planning professionals know that’s not true. Thirty years ago, I was working in gift planning at a major Toronto hospital foundation.  My professional education consistently reinforced the above truism, but my experience didn’t align with what I was taught.  My job focused on exceptional donations from wealth and estate donations. To….

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Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized

Relationships Matter: Revisiting Buffa v. Giacomelli

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My colleagues, Diane Vieira and Karen Watters, Partners at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP, both wrote blogs on Buffa v. Giacomelli, 2025 ONSC 4024. Diane’s blog can be found here, and Karen’s blog can be found here. This matter was recently heard in the Court of Appeal in Buffa v. Giacomelli, 2026 ONCA 566. Background Alexander Buffa (“Alexander”) and Laura Giacomelli (“Laura”) were the children of Giuliana Buffa (“Giuliana” and the….

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Uncategorized

The dilemma between first dealing and converting to joint tenancy

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Douglas Buchmayer, Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP. Although situations where the first dealing exemption applies are becoming increasingly uncommon, it is still important to assess the potential implications of a first dealing when undertaking probate planning involving real estate for couples. The first dealing exemption in Ontario applies when land originally registered under the Land Registry system has been administratively converted by the government to Land Titles, and no change….

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Real Estate
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