Estate Litigation

Total 414 Posts

Preservation Orders in Estate Litigation

Estate litigators are very familiar with unique and interesting fact patterns and it is helpful to be reminded that unusual circumstances may warrant the use of somewhat uncommon remedies. Rule 45 of the Rules of Civil Procedure is one such remedy, which provides for the interim preservation of property and can be utilized in an estate proceeding to preserve and even seize property. Rule 45 reads as follows: 45.01 (1)….

Preservation Orders in Estate Litigation Continue Reading »

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

Summary Judgment and Limitation Periods in the Context of Estate Litigation

Today’s blog was co-written by Ronald Neal. In Sinclair v Harris, Justice Nakatsuru granted summary judgment on the basis that the claims advanced on behalf of the estate were statute-barred. The deceased passed away in November 2015.  The Plaintiffs are the estate trustees appointed in the deceased’s will (the “Estate Trustees”).  Five years before her death, the deceased advanced approximately $137,333 to her friends (the “Defendants”) so that the Defendants could purchase a….

Summary Judgment and Limitation Periods in the Context of Estate Litigation Continue Reading »

Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Joint Tenancy, Loans, Resulting Trust, Uncategorized

Is it Improper for Counsel to Assist an Expert Witness in the Preparation of the Expert’s Report?

Expert evidence constitutes an exception to the rule that witnesses may only testify as to facts, not opinions, and that it is the exclusive prerogative of the trier of fact to draw inferences from proven facts. The expert evidence exception operates where specialized knowledge is required to determine the implications of the facts where the trier of fact is not competent to draw the necessary inferences unaided. The Rules of….

Is it Improper for Counsel to Assist an Expert Witness in the Preparation of the Expert’s Report? Continue Reading »

Estate Litigation, Testamentary Capacity

The Importance of Being Original

This Blog was written by: Emily Racine   As we know, the statistics are less than ideal for the number of Canadians who have a will let alone a recently updated one. That being said, having a will is not enough – it is important to have the original will. In order to apply for probate in Ontario, the original will must be turned over to the probate court. If….

The Importance of Being Original Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Uncategorized, Wills

A Roadblock for Multiple Wills

Today’s blog was written by Justin W. de Vries and Jacob Kaufman A will need not be probated. The power of an estate trustee derives from the will itself. However, in certain cases, a grant of probate (now awkwardly called a certificate of appointment of estate trustee with a will) is needed and the estate trustee will have no choice but to apply for probate and to pay the accompanying….

A Roadblock for Multiple Wills Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, In the News, Succession Planning, Wills

Undue Influence by “Unwitting Proxy”

Undue influence results in benefits to a beneficiary/donee which would not have occurred except for the undue influence imposed by the beneficiary/donee upon the testator/donor. Undue influence can be conceptualized into two distinct types: (1) “actual” undue influence and (2) “presumed” undue influence. Actual undue influence is concerned with coercive or deceptive behaviour. As explained by Lord Justice Lindley in the seminal case of Allcard v. Skinner,[i] actual undue influence….

Undue Influence by “Unwitting Proxy” Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Elder Law, Guardianship, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Resulting Trust, Testamentary Capacity, Trustee, Trustee Disputes, Undue influence
Scroll to Top