Trustee Disputes

Total 32 Posts

Can You be Removed as a Trustee Without a Replacement?

The recent case of Novak v. McDougall, (2019 SKQB 261), confirms that when you have accepted an appointment to be trustee, you may not be able to have yourself removed from that appointment without a suitable replacement. The applicant in this case, a beneficiary of a “Henson” trust (basically defined as being entitled to distributions from a discretionary trust but having no vested interest in the trust assets) set up….

Can You be Removed as a Trustee Without a Replacement? Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Contested wills, Costs, Credibility, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Guardianship, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Resulting Trust, Trustee, Trustee Compensation, Trustee Disputes, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills

It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over*

A “passing of accounts” refers to the process of formally preparing and presenting accounts to the beneficiaries and the court. The accounts are either approved (i.e., “passed”) in the form presented, amended by court order and passed in revised form, or not passed because the court is not satisfied with the accounts or some aspect of the administration of the estate or property being managed by a fiduciary. Pursuant to….

It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over* Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Caregiving, Costs, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Fiduciary Professions, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Trustee, Trustee Disputes

Passing of Accounts –Made to Measure (Law)Suits

A passing of accounts is the process whereby an estate trustee (or other fiduciary) provides the beneficiaries with a summary of all estate assets, liabilities, and transactions, in a given period. A passing of accounts can be done informally or through a court application. It provides transparency to the beneficiaries and protection to the estate trustee. Because the role of estate trustee is often filled by family members with little….

Passing of Accounts –Made to Measure (Law)Suits Continue Reading »

Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Family Conflict, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee, Trustee Disputes, Wills

Conflicts of Interest – When Lawyers Will Be Removed (or not)

By the time a matter reaches trial, a client and her lawyer will have spent a significant amount of time together. A bond often develops over the course of the relationship, with the client trusting that her lawyer will put forward her position forcibly and knowledgeably. As a result, an attempt by the other side to remove the lawyer from the file is disruptive and often viewed with suspicion. To….

Conflicts of Interest – When Lawyers Will Be Removed (or not) Continue Reading »

Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Trustee Disputes

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

Estate Trustees and Costs of Litigation: Try not to take it personally?

In the work I do, I am asked to provide expert testimony to support litigation. In some cases, I am often quite surprised to what extent parties will continue to litigate matters that appear to be “no-wins” or for small dollar amounts. Depending on the circumstances, parties have taken the personal brunt of litigation costs that may far exceed the amount in question, due primarily to their own intransigence. A….

Estate Trustees and Costs of Litigation: Try not to take it personally? Continue Reading »

Attorney Compensation, Contested wills, Costs, Estate Administration, Executors, Family Conflict, Liability, Property, Trustee, Trustee Disputes, Uncategorized, Wills
Scroll to Top