Contested wills

Total 114 Posts

Analysis of Undue Influence is Case Specific

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The applicant in Roe v. Roe, 2022 ONSC 5821 (CanLII), was not successful in setting aside his mom’s will on the basis of undue influence and “insane delusions”.  He was the only son (of four) who was disinherited in his mom’s will.  This was a departure from the mom’s previous will which treated her four sons equally.  The applicant argued that his mom had been unduly influenced by his brother,….

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Capacity Law, Contested wills

Will Challenges and Limitation Periods: Court of Appeal Weighs In

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The question of whether will challenges fall under the standard two-year limitation period has long been a topic of consideration in lower courts[1]. Does the limitation clock start ticking at the date of death, upon discovering the existence of another will, or when there is knowledge of both the existence and content of another will? The Court of Appeal has finally spoken on the issue … well, sort of…..

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Appeals, Contested wills, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Limitation periods, Wills

Videos and Wills: Helpful or Harmful?

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Pictured: A screen grab from the music video for “Only Acting” by Kero Kero Bonito. It’s one of my favourite songs. It’s not quite about video wills, but it does show off some of the challenges of recording oneself. What are Video Wills? Some practitioners have floated the idea of a “video will” as the next way in which technology will impact the world of trusts and estates. A “video….

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Capacity Law, Contested wills, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Practice Management, Testamentary Capacity, Wills

Father Time: A Limitation Period Refresher

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As the holiday season is upon us and the new year approaches, many of us are thinking about time. For those in the litigation world, time, and more specifically, limitation periods, should always be top of mind. This blog serves as a refresher for some of the limitation periods that apply to different estate-related issues. Basic Limitation Period It is well known that generally, a proceeding shall not be commenced….

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Contested wills, Courts, Dependant Support, Estate Litigation, Limitation periods, Uncategorized, Wills

Proportionality and costs awards

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In Fanelli v. Fanelli-Bruno, 2023 ONSC 6501, Justice Myers provided clear direction on the principle of proportionality in litigation, and the ways in which it can influence a decision on costs.   The decision The estate of Ms. Lina Fanelli, the mother of the Applicant and Respondent, was the subject of the recent Fanelli decision, which was released earlier this month. Approximately one year before her death, Ms. Fanelli drafted….

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Contested wills, Costs, Estate Litigation, Undue influence, Wills

Production motions: the bar is higher than you think

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A recently released decision, Giann v Giannopoulos, 2023 ONSC 5412, provides clarity on a question that frequently arises in estate litigation: what information is a party entitled to from the deceased’s personal records and documents? This case, heard by Justice Myers of the estate list in mid-September this year was a motion by the Applicants for orders providing them access to the legal, medical and financial records of their deceased….

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Contested wills, Credibility, Estate Litigation
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