Diane Vieira

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Diane has practiced in the area of estate, trust and capacity litigation since she was called to the Ontario Bar in 2006. Diane obtained her law degree from Queen’s University after completing an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. She received the Certificate in Elder Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and the Toronto Lawyers Association. Diane has chaired various continuing legal education programs regarding estate, trust and capacity matters. She can be reached at dvieira@devrieslitigation.com More of Diane's blogs can be found at https://devrieslitigation.com/author/dvieira/

Who is Your Substitute Decision-Maker?

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Under the Heath Care and Consent Act  (“HCCA”), every person in Ontario has an automatic Substitute Decision-Maker (“SDM”) who can provide or refuse consent to medical treatment if the person becomes incapable of providing consent. However, there is still a great amount of confusion about SDMs and who they are, especially when a person has not appointed an attorney for personal care. Under s. 20 (1) of the HCCA, the….

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Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes

The Law Commission of Ontario Seeks Public Consultation

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The Law Commission of Ontario’s (LCO) Improving the Last Stages of Life project released two final research papers ahead of publishing its consultation paper. The LCO’s project examines how Ontario laws are shaping the quality of life of dying people and how end of life care can be improved in Ontario through a better understanding of the law by healthcare workers, patients, and substitute decision-makers. It also considers recommendations for….

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Capacity Law, Caregiving, Elder Law, In the News

Estate Trustee Awarded Costs for Unnecessary Passing of Accounts

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In a recent court decision, Pochopsky Estate, the court found the Deceased’s four children (the “Beneficiaries”) jointly and severally liable for the estate trustee’s costs related to an application compelling him to pass his accounts.  The Beneficiaries had obtained an order compelling the estate trustee to account. The court ultimately found that the application was unnecessary and awarded the estate trustee his costs payable by the Beneficiaries. In his will,….

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Costs, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts

LCO Releases Report on Capacity, Decision-making and Guardianship Laws

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Last week, the Law Commission of Ontario (“LCO”) released and presented to the provincial government, their final report reviewing Ontario’s statutory framework for legal capacity, decision-making and guardianship matters. The LCO focused on the relevant capacity provisions found in the Health Care Consent Act, the Substitute Decisions Act (“SDA”), and the Mental Health Act (“MHA”).  The report makes 58 recommendations to address issues such as financial elder abuse, misuse of….

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Attorney Compensation, Capacity Law, Elder Law, Fiduciary Professions, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes

The Case of the $30,000 Scrapbooks

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In what the judge referred to as a “noble gesture”, the deceased ordered that his two scrapbooks setting out his life story be copied and distributed to his family. These instructions were set out in a Codicil to his Will. However, disagreement amongst family members regarding the copying of the scrapbooks and delivery of the books led to court proceedings and over $30,000 in legal fees claimed by the three….

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Estate Litigation, Wills

Court of Appeal Confirms New Approach to Costs in Estate Litigation

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In a recent court of appeal decision, the court upheld the trial judge’s costs award and reiterated the deference allotted to trial judges when exercising discretion to fix costs. In Prelorentzos v. Havaris, the court dismissed the appellant’s appeal.  At trial, the appellant was found to be the deceased’s common law spouse and was awarded $30,000 from his estate.  However, the trial judge was frustrated with the lack of disclosure….

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Contested wills, Wills
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