Brown paper packages tied up with strings…

This blog post was written by Jihan Hosein, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Northern Prairies These are a few of my favourite things… what we can learn from the famous Sound of Music song? A bowl of plastic fruit on grandma’s kitchen counter, may seem inconsequential to some- but to others it’s a powerful reminder of shared moments and family history. While it may not carry significant monetary value, the….

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Estate Administration, Family Conflict, Trustee Disputes

Key Estate Decisions Released in 2024 and 2025: Part I

Throughout 2024 and into early 2025, the Courts released many riveting and groundbreaking decisions that have had an echoing effect throughout the estate litigation world. This blog will detail 5 of those decisions and cover a variety of topics and issues relevant to estate litigation and planning. A second blog acting as a “Part II” detailing other important decisions will be coming soon to a blog website near you. Tessaro….

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Uncategorized

RESP, Incapacity and Power of Attorney

This article is written by Nicole Ewing, Principal, Wealth Planning Office, TD Wealth Parents and grandparents often help fund a child’s education using Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs). These are tax-efficient vehicles that allow contributions, grants, bonds, and income to be invested in a tax-deferred environment to grow for eventual use toward post-secondary education. Generally, the parent/grandparent “subscriber” enters into an RESP contract with a “promotor” and names one or….

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Capacity Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, RESP

Founders: the good, the innovative, and the toxic

Founders are a source of innovation and energy in the social good sector. Lionized as “social entrepreneurs” they identify gaps and create organizations to fill them. But there is, sometimes, a dark side to founders. Donors, employees and stakeholders should be aware of these dynamics. Dr. Susanna Kislenko is a researcher who focuses on founders, especially those in the non-profit world.  In 2025, she established The Founder Leadership Research Lab,….

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Estate Donations, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving

Successful Will Challenge Yields Blended Cost Award

The Applicant (the Deceased’s son) brought an application seeking to invalidate the Deceased’s 2023 Will, submit the Deceased’s 2022 Will for probate, and seek the return of the Deceased’s $95,000 gift to his nephew. The Deceased executed wills on March 16, 2022 and November 22, 2023. In his 2022 Will, the Applicant is named as the estate trustee, the Deceased gifts his home and its contents to the Applicant and names the….

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Estate Litigation, Wills

Can insurers insist on probate to release life insurance funds?

Written by Kelsey Buchmayer, associate with the Ottawa office of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP An insurer should not necessarily require a probated Will to release the proceeds of a life insurance policy. Section 203 of the Insurance Act[1] sets out that upon receipt of “sufficient evidence”, an insurance company should pay the insurance money to the person entitled thereto, and within thirty days of receiving the evidence: 203 (1) Where an….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Insurance
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