“estate litigation”

Court Interprets Will’s Residue Clause

In a recent case, the court was asked to interpret the residue clause of the Deceased’s Will. The Deceased passed away in 2016. In her 1997 Will, she named her daughter as the sole executor and residuary beneficiary. However, both her daughter and alternate estate trustee predeceased her. The Will directed that, in the event her daughter predeceased her, the residue of the estate would be divided among the Deceased’s five siblings…..

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Estate Litigation

Why Should it Come Out of My Share of the Estate?

Often when an estate is involved in litigation to address the conduct of an uncooperative beneficiary, the other beneficiaries expect that the estate trustee’s court costs will be paid from the share of the “problem” beneficiary.  However, as lawyers like to say “it depends.” In a recent Ontario case, an estate trustee brought a court application seeking immediate access and the vacant possession of the Deceased’s house, the primary asset….

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Estate Litigation

Adding New Parties to An Existing Litigation?

Joinder In the world of estate law, litigation is often unavoidable. Sometimes, facts and players will emerge after the initial pleadings stage, i.e., after litigation has already begun. In that case, a notice of application or statement of claim must be amended to add further respondents who are not already part of the litigation. This addition of new parties is also called “joinder”. Joinder is addressed under Rule 26.01 and….

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Contested wills, Estate Litigation, Trustee Disputes, Uncategorized

ELDER ABUSE: A GROWING PROBLEM IN AN AGING POPULATION

Today’s blog is co-written by Jennifer Campbell and Sandra Arsenault, Senior Law Clerks in the Private Client Services Group at Fasken. At the beginning of November, we were fortunate enough to attend the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO) annual conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  This conference brings together law clerks and paralegals working in various areas of law.  It is a great opportunity to network with colleagues you have not….

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Capacity Law, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Family Conflict, Geriatric Care Management, In the News, Joint Tenancy, Power of Attorney, Undue influence, Wills

All About The Disappointed Beneficiary Claim

What happens when a lawyer is retained by a testator to make a will, but that will is never made? While the testator (or their estate) may have a claim against the lawyer, do the beneficiaries of that unmade will also have a claim? The Historical Origin of “Disappointed Beneficiaries”: White v. Jones In this 1995 UK case by the House of Lords, the testator wished to revoke a prior….

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Contested wills, Estate Litigation

Intestacy and Removing an Estate Trustee

In Letourneau v Summers, the court examined the factors required to remove an estate trustee when there is an intestacy. The Applicant was the 82-year-old mother of the Deceased. She was the sole beneficiary of the Deceased’s Estate.  The Respondent was the Deceased’s brother and the Applicant’s son. The Respondent’s appointment as the estate trustee without a will was originally on consent but the Applicant quickly became disillusioned with her son’s administration….

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Estate Administration, Estate Litigation
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