Wills

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The Risk and (Potential) Reward for Acting as an Executor [1]

  For those engaged in thoughtful Will planning there comes a point in the discussion with clients about who should be an executor, what the job of an executor is and whether and how much they should be paid. More often clients want to start the Will planning dialogue by telling me who they want to name as their executor.  Sometimes the choice is coupled with the explanation that “He….

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Estate Planning, Executors, Family Conflict, Wills

Allsorts of Potential Problems with Joint Bank Accounts

This blog was written by Ronald Neal, student-at-law at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP. What happens to the money in a joint bank account when one of the joint account owners passes away? Do the funds pass to the surviving joint owner outside of the estate, or do the funds form part of the deceased joint owner’s estate? The Ontario Superior Court of Justice considered these questions in its recent decision….

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Estate Planning, Wills

The Cost of Winning, Sort of….

In my practice, I have been engaged on valuation matters which, on occasion despite the efforts of all those involved, go to trial to have a trial judge settle for the parties. Most trials are expensive and the actual outcome is not always certain, no matter how strong one side of the matter or case might be. It has been my experience that even if one happens to be on….

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Costs, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Executors, Joint Tenancy, Property, Uncategorized, Undue influence, Wills

The Toronto Maple Leafs and “Pour Over” Clauses have something in Common

With the Toronto Maple Leafs season ending earlier this week, I thought I would take this opportunity to discuss the recent B.C. Supreme Court ruling involving the estate of former Leafs head coach, Pat Quinn (“Pat”). On March 9, 2018, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Funt declared the “pour over” clause in Pat’s Will invalid.  The clause could not be “cured” by the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, S.B.C. 2009, c…..

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Estate Administration, Estate Planning, In the News, Wills

More than a Suspicion: The Minimal Evidentiary Threshold

A recent Ontario decision, Martin v. Martin [1], considered the minimal evidentiary threshold required to obtain documentary discovery in a will challenge as set out in Seepa v. Seepa.  For further background on Seepa, read Rebecca Studin’s previous blog post on that decision. In Martin, the Applicant (the named Estate Trustee) sought an order removing the Notice of Objection of the Respondent, his sister, to his appointment as Estate Trustee….

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Estate Litigation, Testamentary Capacity, Wills

Executors Remuneration

Occasionally, I (like many of fellow bloggers for sure) get asked – what is appropriate remuneration for an executor or executrix to administer an estate – often in circumstances where remuneration is not specified or even referred in the deceased’s will or otherwise. Bottom line, what are the guidelines and how much is enough? A recent court case in the Supreme Court of British Columbia Le Gallais Estate (re) 2108….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Executors, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee Compensation, Uncategorized, Wills
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