Wills

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Most Common Mistakes Individuals Make in Quebec Estate Planning

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Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Mina Mattia, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Montreal Estate planning in Quebec is often misunderstood, overlooked or postponed. Quebec’s civil law system also differs from the rest of Canada, which means that rules about wills and succession can surprise people. Here are some common mistakes individuals make when planning their estate plan in Quebec and how to avoid them.   Not preparing a Will….

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Estate Planning, Wills

Haddock v. Haddock: Interpreting a Cottage Bequest

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In Haddock v. Haddock (2025 ONSC 6287), the court was asked to interpret a clause in the deceased’s 2012 will dealing with a bequest of her cottage to one of her three surviving children. The deceased died in 2022, leaving her children as co-estate trustees. Her estate consisted primarily of the cottage and TD Bank investment accounts. The will provided a specific gift to the grandchildren, divided the residue equally….

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Estate Litigation, Property, Wills

Guarding Legacies in Blended Families: Cautionary Tips for Will Drafting

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On the left half of the image is a photo of a mother and teen walking into a dorm room. On the right side is a woman on a couch with retirement home staff.

Today’s Post written by  Ashley Thornton, Articling Student, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Blended families, specifically those with stepchildren, in Ontario face unique estate planning challenges which are occasionally overlooked. If not planned for expressly, this may lead to unintended disinheritance or costly litigation. Drafting with intention is therefore essential. Clear definitions, explicit beneficiary designations, and coordination of all parts of the estate plan (including beneficiary designations on registered accounts and….

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Estate Planning, Wills

A Beneficiary’s Guide to Reviewing Estate Accounts: The Perspective from British Columbia (Part One)

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Today’s blog is the first in a three-part series that explores estate accounts from the perspective of a beneficiary, and more specifically a beneficiary of an estate in the Province of British Columbia. These blogs were written by Caroline Caron, a paralegal in the Vancouver office of Fasken LLP, to provide practical and helpful tips for beneficiaries who are navigating estate accounts. In this first part, Caroline provides a general….

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Estate Administration, Executors, Wills

Review or Update Your Will Every Few Years—Your Beneficiaries Will Thank You

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This blog has been written by JOSEPH STONEHOUSE, litigation associate at Fasken LLP (Toronto) In a recent decision, Justice Myers of the Superior Court of Justice dismissed claims by beneficiaries under a will against the drafter because those claims were brought more than 15 years after the defendant drafted the will. The court determined that, despite the perceived unfairness, the legislative intent behind the Limitations Act necessitated striking the plaintiffs’ claims…..

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Contested wills, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Limitation periods, Succession Planning, Wills

Estate Planning Horror Stories: Tales from the Legal Crypt

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Today’s blog was written by Jessica Butler, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. Halloween is all about chills and thrills, but nothing sends a shiver down my spine quite like a botched estate plan. These stories aren’t just for a fright; they’re a reminder that a little planning now can save your family from a real nightmare later.   The Phantom Beneficiary Harold thought he had his estate sorted out by….

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Estate Planning, Executors, Wills
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