Duties to Vulnerable Individuals: Lessons from Lewicki v. Bascus

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The recent decision in Lewicki v. Bascus et al., 2025 ONSC 6224 reiterates the duties lawyers and attorneys for property or personal care have to vulnerable persons. Attorneys have a duty to refrain from influencing vulnerable persons with their personal opinions to further their own self-interest. Lawyers have a duty to enforce safeguards when dealing with vulnerable clients to ensure their decisions are independent and rooted in logic. Lionel Bascus….

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The Stages of an Estate Administration – Part 1

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Today’s blog was written by Courtney Lanthier, Law Clerk at Fasken. Having worked in this field for over 10 years now, I’ve definitely done my fair share of estate planning, but not nearly enough estate administration. Now, after a long hiatus, I’m stepping back in and starting to notice that things have definitely changed. The process and steps involved in an administration can be overwhelming for those of us working….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Executors, Practice Management

Transferring the Family Home to the Next Generation

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Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Rebecca Tong, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Tax Services, Vancouver Ever thought about gifting a property to your children? As most parents would think – yes why not and what is the big deal?  I recently had this very discussion with my own aging parents,  and this resulted in some important discussions about our family home, their goals and consideration for the tax outcomes of any….

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Estate Planning, Real Estate, Tax Issues

Haddock v. Haddock: Interpreting a Cottage Bequest

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In Haddock v. Haddock (2025 ONSC 6287), the court was asked to interpret a clause in the deceased’s 2012 will dealing with a bequest of her cottage to one of her three surviving children. The deceased died in 2022, leaving her children as co-estate trustees. Her estate consisted primarily of the cottage and TD Bank investment accounts. The will provided a specific gift to the grandchildren, divided the residue equally….

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Estate Litigation, Property, Wills

Guarding Legacies in Blended Families: Cautionary Tips for Will Drafting

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On the left half of the image is a photo of a mother and teen walking into a dorm room. On the right side is a woman on a couch with retirement home staff.

Today’s Post written by  Ashley Thornton, Articling Student, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Blended families, specifically those with stepchildren, in Ontario face unique estate planning challenges which are occasionally overlooked. If not planned for expressly, this may lead to unintended disinheritance or costly litigation. Drafting with intention is therefore essential. Clear definitions, explicit beneficiary designations, and coordination of all parts of the estate plan (including beneficiary designations on registered accounts and….

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Estate Planning, Wills

Holiday Conversations That Matter: Using the Season to Talk About Smart Ageing

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A family at the dining room table during the holiday season. An older man at the end of the table is standing and offering a toast.

The festive season brings families together in ways few other times of year manage. This creates a valuable opportunity for meaningful conversations about the future. When approached with care and respect, these discussions can provide relief, clarity, and peace of mind for everyone involved. Many adult children hesitate to raise questions about ageing or care needs, concerned about causing offense or worry. This reluctance is understandable. However, waiting for a….

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Elder Management, Smart Ageing
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