Estate Planning

Total 1082 Posts

The Benefits and Limitations of “Family Law Clauses”

• • 0 Comments

This week’s blog has been written by Darren Lund Estate planning and family law intersect in numerous ways. One of the most obvious intersections between these two areas of law is the so-called “family law clause” that appears in Ontario wills, deeds of gift, and inter vivos trusts. Although the clause is ubiquitous, it is one that is easily misunderstood by lay readers of wills, deeds of gift, and trusts…..

The Benefits and Limitations of “Family Law Clauses” Continue Reading »

Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills

Gift or Loan? A Family Feud Unwrapped in Court

• • 0 Comments

This blog post was written by Mohena Singh, Associate at Fasken LLP In the realm of family law and financial planning, the case of Klemensiewicz v. Klemens et al sheds light on the intricacies of familial financial support, particularly the distinction between gifts and loans. Often as estate planners, we see that individuals want to provide for their family members both during their lifetime and through their estate after passing. Many individuals prefer….

Gift or Loan? A Family Feud Unwrapped in Court Continue Reading »

Courts, Estate Planning, Family Conflict

AI Generated Wills: Can Courts Fix a Robot’s Mistake?

• • 1 Comment
scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust   AI has started writing Wills. That might sound futuristic, but it’s already happening. Generative tools can churn out documents that look polished, formatted, and ready to sign. But what happens when those words don’t match what the person actually intended? Can a court fix an AI-generated Will the way it might fix a solicitor’s drafting error?   Think….

AI Generated Wills: Can Courts Fix a Robot’s Mistake? Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Estate Planning

A Selfie Isn’t a Will: The Problem with Video “Wills”

• • 0 Comments
scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust   This summer, the Montana Supreme Court had to weigh in on a modern question: can a selfie video serve as a person’s last Will? The short answer was no. In a case that made headlines, the court rejected a man’s video-recorded “selfie Will.” Even though he clearly expressed that he wanted his brother to inherit everything, the court ruled….

A Selfie Isn’t a Will: The Problem with Video “Wills” Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Estate Planning, Wills

The Letter of Wishes: A Personal Touch to your Estate Plan

• • 1 Comment

Today’s blog was written by Courtney Lanthier, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. As estate planning legal professionals, we sometimes lose sight of how difficult and confusing reading a Will can be, often full of “legalese” and sentences that seem to go on forever. An executor reading the will may not fully grasp what it is they are meant to do and how to make the difficult decisions they are asked….

The Letter of Wishes: A Personal Touch to your Estate Plan Continue Reading »

Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills

When Private Foundations Die

• • 0 Comments

Pieter Claesz, “Vanitas Still Life” 1630. Private foundations are believed to be durable entities.  Perpetuity is often assumed at the planning stage.  Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) data shows, however, that 3,073 private foundations closed during the period 2000 to 2025. Growth in Private Foundations Private foundations have seen significant growth in Canada, with an increase in assets of over 300% in the last 20 years to over $100 billion in….

When Private Foundations Die Continue Reading »

Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving
Scroll to Top