Justin de Vries

Total 57 Posts

Website

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

SMART AGEING, SMART ESTATES. Episode 3: Why You Need a Lifestyle Plan

Most estate plans focus on what happens to your assets after you die. Far fewer estate plans address an equally important question: how do you want to live if your circumstances change before you die? If you lose your independence before your death, who will help you manage your life? Episode 3 of Smart Ageing, Smart Estates explores the lifestyle plan, which is a practical companion to legal and financial….

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Estate Planning, Podcast, Smart Ageing

Smart Ageing, Smart Estates Podcast, Episode 2: A Will Is a Starting Point

SMART AGEING, SMART ESTATES continues with a discussion about wills, estate planning and the broader considerations that shape a comprehensive estate plan. The podcast connects legal planning, financial planning, and ageing considerations into a single planning framework. The podcast is co-hosted by Justin de Vries, founder of All About Estates and principal of de VRIES LITIGATION LLP, together with Susan Hyatt, Chair, CEO and Co-Founder of Silver Sherpa Inc. Estate….

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Estate Planning, Podcast, Wills

Five Popular Posts This Summer

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

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

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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Uncategorized

Recent Notable Cases in Estates and Trusts Litigation, 2026

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
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