Justin de Vries

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Justin has been consistently named as one of the Best Lawyers in Canada/Trusts & Estates. He is an accomplished litigator who has appeared before all levels of the Ontario Court & the Federal Court of Canada. Justin's areas of expertise include: estate, trust, and capacity litigation, as well as probate applications and estate administration. He regularly speaks on estate, trust and capacity issues. Email: jdevries@devrieslitigation.com

Five Popular Posts This Summer

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This is a selection of popular posts from All About Estates this summer. Estate Donation Regime at 10 Years Malcolm Burrows, Scotia Wealth Trust | June 18, 2026 Ten years ago, in 2016, the introduction of the Graduated Rate Estate (GRE) regime turned Canadian estate planning upside down.  The sidebar to the GRE rules were rules for “estate donations”. Choosing the Right Estate Trustee: When Poor Administration Comes at a….

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Elder Management, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation

Introducing the SMART AGEING, SMART ESTATES Podcast

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All About Estates has launched SMART AGEING, SMART ESTATES, a new podcast examining the intersection between estate planning and lifestyle planning. The podcast is co-hosted by Justin de Vries, a lawyer, founder of All About Estates and principal of de VRIES LITIGATION LLP, together with Susan Hyatt, Chair and CEO, Co-founder of Silver Sherpa .  de VRIES LITIGATION LLP specializes in estate, trust and capacity litigation, as well as estate….

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Podcast

Hiring Court Experts: A Quick Guide

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As is often the case in civil litigation proceedings, estate and trust litigation relies on expert evidence.  This blog will lay out the general legal framework when it comes to engaging an expert and admitting expert evidence at trial. As an overview, case law collectively establishes that: Expert evidence must be independent, necessary, and properly confined in scope. Counsel may properly interact with experts but must not compromise their independence…..

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Recent Notable Cases in Estates and Trusts Litigation, 2026

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I recently spoke at the Estate Planners’ Council of Halton (EPCOH).  Below is a brief summary of recent and notable cases that Jonathon Vander Zee and I prepared for the EPCOH presentation.  It’s always good to keep up to date.  Enjoy! Cassan v. Giroux, 2026 ONSC 330 Moral obligations matter – the Court will strive to balance a person’s legal entitlement to support with the deceased’s testamentary intentions and moral….

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Estate Litigation, Trusts

Most-Read All About Estates Articles of 2025

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It is well known that Canada is experiencing one of the most significant intergenerational transfer of wealth.  With that comes growing estate planning complexity, a rise in estate litigation, and intensifying concerns about elder management and abuse.  In 2025, five blogs from All About Estates clearly resonated with professionals grappling with these challenges, drawing thousands of readers seeking thoughtful insight and guidance.  The blogs are reposted below. Separately, All About….

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Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Wills

The Importance of Fiduciary Duties

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The Oxford Dictionary defines a fiduciary as a person in a position of trust, especially when it involves controlling money or property belonging to others. The law places particular emphasis on the trust relationship between a trustee and a third-party beneficiary. Among other duties, a fiduciary is required to: (1) act in the best interests of the beneficiary, (2) not put their own interests ahead of the beneficiary, and (3)….

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Elder Care, Elder Law, Fiduciary Professions, Guardianship, Liability, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Trustee
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