Estate Litigation

Anna Chen, Associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Often, estate trustees or trustees apply to the court for its opinion, advice or direction in respect to issues in the administration of the estates or trusts.  The questions put to the court may range from the interpretation of a clause in a testamentary instrument or questions as to whether the estate trustee or trustee has the authority to carry out certain steps….

A recent case confirmed that estate trustees representing an estate in litigation must have a lawyer unless the court dispenses with that requirement. In Scarangella v. Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Ms. Scarangella commenced a medical negligence action as a claimant under the Family Law Act and as the estate trustee on behalf of her late partner’s estate.  As she was self-represented, she brought a motion seeking leave to act on….

Irina Samborski, associate and Nina Fainman-Adelman, consultant, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Introduction The recent Ontario Superior Court decision, The Estate of William Robert Waters v Gillian Henry et al, 2024 ONSC 4190 (CanLII) (“Waters”) highlighted the importance of medical evidence in estate litigation. In that case, Justice Callaghan relied on the testator’s medical records—specifically, a prescription for an erectile dysfunction drug and a note reading “got a gf”—to find that….