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Total 683 Posts

Iceman’s Memory – Val Kilmer’s Digital Legacy

This blog post was written by Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust With the tragic passing of Val Kilmer early this month, at the age of 65, we are reminded of the pressing challenges that professional advisors face in modern estate planning. Well known for his roles in Tombstone,Top Gun, Batman: Forever, The Saint, and many others, he leaves an estate valued between $10 million and $25 million. Kilmer’s legacy extended….

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Estate Planning, Practice Management, Uncategorized

Proposed Changes to the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure

The Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure may be dramatically changed. In January 2024, the Civil Rules Review (the “CRR”) was launched. The mandate of the CRR is extensive: to “conduct a comprehensive and complete review of the Rules and identify, through consultation, areas where targeted changes to the Rules would increase efficiency and access to justice for Ontarians, reduce complexity and costs, maximize the effective use of court resources, reduce….

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Some Good News

With all going on in the world right now, I figure we could all used some good news. Last week, CBC News published an article about Gerald and Coby Goguen, a couple from New Brunswick, who were able to pass away hand in hand earlier this year. Married for 41 years, Gerald and Coby were both battling cancer in the months leading up to their deaths. Through medical assistance in….

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A Fiduciary Must Always Account

In the recent decision of The Estate of Joan R. McAteer, deceased, 2025 ONSC 1197, the Court outlined an attorney for property’s fiduciary obligations to account to the beneficiaries of the incapable person’s estate upon their death. When John Joseph McAteer died, attorneys for property managed the assets of his incapacitated wife, Joan McAteer, until her death. Following Joan’s death, their son, also called John McAteer, brought an application to….

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A Closer Look at Simultaneous Deaths

Recently, the world learned of the passing of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa in what appeared to very strange circumstances. Initially, there were concerns that their deaths may have been as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Autopsy reports have later revealed that this is not the case. Almost immediately, the media started talking about their Estates, with initial reports suggesting that Gene’s Will did not name….

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Estate Administration, Estate Planning, In the News, Uncategorized, Wills

From Inventory to Distribution: Managing Household Items in an Estate

Today’s blog was written by Jessica Butler, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. Managing and distributing household contents in an estate can be a daunting task, filled with both emotional and practical challenges. In this blog, we’ll explore the essential steps and considerations for handling household items in an estate, from creating an inventory and appraising items, to distributing them among beneficiaries, to dealing with sentimental belongings. Whether you’re an estate….

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Estate Administration, Executors, Grief, Property
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