Courts

Total 62 Posts

When a Liquidator Moves In: Conflict of Interest in Quebec Estate Administration

This post has been written by Pierre-Paul Persico, Partner, at Fasken LLP A liquidator who is also a beneficiary and continues occupying the deceased’s home does not, by itself, breach the duty owed to the estate. But the moment that occupation is formalized through a self-dealing transaction, made without beneficiary consultation or court authorization, the conflict becomes concrete and can, on its own, justify removal, regardless of whether other aspects….

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Courts, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Family Conflict

Part II: When is a Family Trust a Family Asset in a Divorce in Ontario?

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Holly LeValliant, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Toronto   In part one of my post on family trusts and the Family Law Act, I looked at how Ontario courts look beyond formal trust structures to the substance of the trust, particularly when they are deciding whether a discretionary trust interest forms part of net family property or if it should be treated as a….

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Courts, Family Conflict, Trusts

When is a Family Trust a Family Asset in a Divorce in Ontario?

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Holly LeValliant, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Toronto   Family Trusts and the Family Law Act Family trusts are popular tools for estate planning, asset protection, and intergenerational wealth transfer in Ontario.  However, during a divorce, they can become contentious:  is the trust an asset that is subject to an equalization between the spouses?  Can the assets in the trust be used to determine….

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Courts, Family Conflict, Trusts

Estate Trustee Compensation

Scotiatrust

Taking on the role of an estate trustee can be a difficult one. The tasks typically involve gathering in and managing assets, determining liabilities, and moving the administration of an estate forward until it is time to distribute the net assets to the beneficiaries. While there is a general principle that an estate should be wrapped up within 1 year (also known as the “executor’s year”), completing the administration of….

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Compensation, Courts, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Trustee, Trustee Compensation

Rule 7 and New Ontario Regulation 173/25

The multi-faceted Rule 7 of the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure often comes into play in estate litigation. Generally, in estates cases, the Rule may be engaged when there is a settlement impacting a person under disability (i.e. a minor, an absentee within the meaning of the Absentees Act, or a person who is mentally incapable within the meaning of section 6 or 45 of the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 in….

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Capacity Law, Courts, Disability, Estate Litigation, Guardianship, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Uncategorized

When One Clause or Designation Derails an Estate Plan

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Recent decisions from the British Columbia Court of Appeal have underscored how fragile an estate plan can become when a Will is ambiguous, or when life insurance and beneficiary designations conflict with the testator’s broader intentions. These cases remind us that estate planning isn’t just about having a Will, it’s about making sure the pieces are consistent, coherent, and….

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Appeals, Contested wills, Courts, Estate Litigation, Insurance, Wills
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