Estate Litigation

Total 413 Posts

Court Awards Punitive Damages Against a Former Estate Trustee

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In a recent decision, the court awarded punitive damages against a former estate trustee who had ignored a number of court orders requiring her to account. In 2002, the estate trustee (“Lorali”) was appointed a co-estate trustee of her late mother’s estate (the “Deceased”). Subsequently, her co-estate trustee died in 2013, leaving her the sole estate trustee. Pursuant to the terms of the Deceased’s Will, the estate trustees were directed to….

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Estate Litigation

The Cy-Près Doctrine: When Good Intentions Count For Something

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The cy-près doctrine It is common practice to leave a gift to a charity in your will. However, the charity that the testator wished to support may not have been named properly in the will (leading to confusion about who was supposed to benefit from the funds), or may have ceased to exist by the time the testator died. Where a testator intended to benefit a charity, the courts have….

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Charitable Giving, Estate Administration, Estate Donations, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Trustee, Trusts, Wills

The Continuing Importance of the Presumption of Due Execution

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Where the evidence establishes that the testator executed the will in accordance with the requisite formalities (e.g., signed in the presence of two witnesses), a rebuttable presumption arises that the testator knew and approved the contents of the will…..

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Wills

The Life and Legacy of Gina Lollobrigida – An Estates Perspective

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Today’s blog is written by Jessica J. Butler, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. Italian cinema legend Gina Lollobrigida passed away at the age of 95 in January 2023.  Known by fans as ‘La Lollo’, she starred in over 60 films which included the likes of Frank Sinatra and Sean Connery. Gina’s legacy includes a past fraught with disputes considered to be some of the most common and ‘classic’ wills and….

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Capacity Law, Contested wills, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, International, Testamentary Capacity, Undue influence, Wills

Facts, Mistakes, and Probate

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Today’s blog was written by Christopher Cook, Student-At-Law at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP In some common law jurisdictions, there exists a fascinating (but rarely applied) legal doctrine called “patent mistake.” This doctrine applies in the context of applications for probate. When asked to probate a will, the court’s task is to determine whether the will in question really is the deceased’s last will and testament. Naturally, this inquiry requires the….

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Contested wills, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Fiduciary Professions, Succession Planning, Wills

Gefen Estate v. Gefen

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The Ontario Court of Appeal (“ONCA”) decision in Gefen Estate v. Gefen is an interesting read which provides insight into a variety of topics including mutual wills and mutual will agreements, secret trusts, the doctrine of unconscionable procurement, and more! By way of background, Elias and Henia Gefen were married for 65 years. They were Holocaust survivors who came to Canada in 1951. They had three sons: Harvey, Harry, and….

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Appeals, Capacity Law, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Family Conflict, Joint Tenancy, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Testamentary Capacity, Uncategorized, Undue influence, Wills
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