Paula Lester

Charitable, but not that charitable

This blog was written by Paula Lester – Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotia Wealth Management No one can question that Eleena Murray, who passed away in May 2017 at the age of 99, had charitable intentions. On the other hand, exactly how charitable her intentions were is at the heart of pending litigation between Eleena’s family and the SPCA. Eleena’s Will, executed in 2003, leaves $440,000 in specific bequests….

Charitable, but not that charitable Continue Reading »

Charitable Giving, Contested wills, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, In the News

Diminishing Capacity and Urge to Delay

This blog was written by Paula Lester – Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotia Wealth Management As an Estate and Trust Consultant who works closely with financial advisors and their clients, I find myself being asked increasingly often to help clients whose capacity has become a concern. This seems to be an instigator as the advisor becomes aware that the client may no longer be able to understand their finances….

Diminishing Capacity and Urge to Delay Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Contested wills, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning

The Risky Business of Updating your Will in the Time of COVID-19

This blog was written by Paula Lester – Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotia Wealth Management It’s the irony of today’s situation: more and more individuals are turning their minds to their estate plans in light of our current pandemic, but getting new Wills drafted and executed right now has become an increasingly difficult endeavour. As a result, we find ourselves trying to get Wills drafted and signed under unideal….

The Risky Business of Updating your Will in the Time of COVID-19 Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Estate Planning, Uncategorized, Wills

The $100 Million Executor Fee: Unexpected but not Unreasonable

This blog was written by Paula Lester – Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotia Wealth Management When the four executors of Leona Helmsley’s $5 billion estate asked for payment of $100 million for their services, it was touted as being astronomical by the challenging Attorney General. Still, Manhattan Surrogate’s Court Judge Nora Anderson recently ruled to allow the fees, which, although admittedly enormous, were considered justified based on the complexity….

The $100 Million Executor Fee: Unexpected but not Unreasonable Continue Reading »

Compensation, Estate Administration, Executors, In the News, United States
Scroll to Top