Uncategorized

Total 678 Posts

Never Underestimate the Value of the Small Things… in Will Drafting

This blog has been written by Karen La Caprara, Counsel at Fasken LLP. It can be easy as a will-drafting lawyer or clerk to approach drafting a will in the same manner as drafting a commercial contract. Like a commercial contract, it is critical that a will does what it is intended to do, provides a clear path to get there and includes options for various eventualities, all in a….

Never Underestimate the Value of the Small Things… in Will Drafting Continue Reading »

Uncategorized

Moral Obligation vs Testamentary Freedom: Which Should Prevail?

*This blog post was written by Ruth Paul, articling student at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP* Testamentary freedom is a guiding principle in Canadian estates law. It operates under the presumption that individuals are free to dispose of their estate however they see fit. However, testamentary freedom is not an absolute right. It is subject to statutory limitations that vary between provinces. In Ontario, these limitations are imposed by the Succession….

Moral Obligation vs Testamentary Freedom: Which Should Prevail? Continue Reading »

Uncategorized

Lam v Law Estate: Gender bias permits variation of discriminatory will

Today’s blog post was written by Latoya Brown, an Associate at Fasken LLP. The discussion of discriminatory wills continues with a new case out of the British Columbia Supreme Court. In Lam v Law Estate, 2024 BCSC 156, the court varied a testatrix’s will on the reasoning that the testatrix’s bias did not meet contemporary standards of fairness. The testatrix was survived by her two independent adult children, her son….

Lam v Law Estate: Gender bias permits variation of discriminatory will Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Caregiving, Compensation, Contested wills, Courts, Dependant Support, Elder Law, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Succession Planning, Uncategorized, Wills

A Tale of Two Limitation Periods

In Ingram v. Kulynych Estate, 2024 ONCA 678, the Court of Appeal for Ontario considered the appropriate limitation period where two different limitation periods were applicable and apparently in conflict in relation to a claim against an estate. Background Henry Kulynych died in February 2017. In his Will, Mr. Kulynych left his estate to his first wife, and if she predeceased him, which she did, then to his three children…..

A Tale of Two Limitation Periods Continue Reading »

Uncategorized

Jointing family assets to avoid probate: Is it still that simple?

Douglas Buchmayer, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP As many of you will be aware, probate is the process by which the Will of a deceased person is submitted to the Court for verification. A tax under the Estate Administration Tax Act of Ontario (formerly known as “probate fees”) of 1.5% is levied on the value of all assets of the deceased dealt with by that Will. Notionally not included in the….

Jointing family assets to avoid probate: Is it still that simple? Continue Reading »

Estate Planning, Uncategorized

If I were administering Taylor Swift’s Estate

If I were administering Taylor Swift’s estate, I would have to continuously monitor her trademarked lyrics “This sick beat”, “Party like it’s 1989” and “Cause we never go out of style”, amongst others.  Generally, artistic works involve copyright to protect it from being used and sold by others.  But, as song titles and lyrics are not protected by copyright, Taylor Swift turned to trademark law to protect these valuable assets…..

If I were administering Taylor Swift’s Estate Continue Reading »

Estate Administration, Executors, Uncategorized
Scroll to Top