Removal of Estate Trustees Upheld by Ontario Court of Appeal

In MacBeth Estate v. MacBeth, 2025 ONCA 360 CanLII (“MacBeth Estate”) the lower court’s decision was affirmed by the Ontario Court of Appeal. The appellants appealed the lower court’s decision on the basis that the motion judge (i) erred in denying the appellants an adjournment; (ii) erred in removing them as estate trustees; and (iii) erred in permitting a holdback of only $50,000 (the estate trustees argued for a much….

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Costs, Estate Administration

Joint Ownership & U.S. Estate Tax Considerations

Canadians are familiar with the concept of joint ownership with right of survivorship. It is the prevalent form of ownership between spouses. Therefore, it is not uncommon for Canadians to own U.S. real property or other U.S. property, jointly, especially between spouses. Many are of the view that it will simplify the estate plan and succession of the U.S. property to the surviving owner yet, few understand the U.S. estate….

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International, Joint Tenancy, Real Estate, Succession Planning, Tax Issues, United States, US Taxes

Winner/Gagnant!!!!! Six Estate Planning Considerations For Lottery Winners

  You’ve already beaten the odds — now make sure your fortune doesn’t roll the dice without you. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping lottery winners turn sudden wealth into lasting legacies. Here are six key considerations to keep in mind from an estate planning perspective: Assemble a Strong Advisory Team Winning the lottery is thrilling — but it can also be overwhelming and cause immense anxiety…..

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Charitable Giving, Estate Planning, Succession Planning, Trusts, Wills

Quebec’s Parental Union Regime: A New Legal Framework for Unmarried Parents

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Ophely Karam, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Montreal Common-law union has become a predominant form of partnership in the province of Quebec, distinguishing it from other provinces in Canada. In 2021, 42.7% of couples in Quebec lived in a common-law union, this is 2.5 times more than in the rest of Canada, where the proportion of common-law couples is barely 17%. Despite the high….

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Family Conflict, Separation, Spouse

International Mediation in Estate Disputes

*The following blog was written by Sharon D. Davis* Human relationships are marked by conflict. When family dynamics, money issues and the death of a loved one are thrown into the mix, that conflict often ends up in estate litigation. Mediation has become a mainstream way of dealing with estate disputes in Canada. Mediation is a private negotiation process facilitated by a neutral third party (the mediator). This process is….

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Uncategorized

Mutual Wills: Pros & Cons

Today’s blog was written by Douglas Buchmayer, partner with the Ottawa office of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP When deriving an estate plan, it can sometimes be difficult to balance the needs of one’s spouse or partner against the wish to benefit (and protect) the next generation. While perhaps less relevant or compelling when a couple is young or share the same children, the concern becomes more poignant when such spouse….

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Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Probate Tax, Uncategorized, Wills
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