Wills

Total 473 Posts

Is Probate Required To Appear Before Tribunals?

• • 0 Comments

Does an estate trustee have to apply for probate in order to represent the estate before an administrative tribunal? Two administrative tribunals – the Workplace Safety Insurance Appeal Tribunal and the Humans Rights Tribunal have taken different positions. An estate trustee does not always require probate (the formal term is a certificate of appointment of estate trustee with a will). There are many good reasons for an estate trustee to….

Is Probate Required To Appear Before Tribunals? Continue Reading »

Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Executors, Wills

Dementia does not Preclude Testamentary Capacity

• • 0 Comments

Unhappy beneficiaries often challenge the validity of a loved one’s will on the grounds that the testator lacked the capacity to execute a will. Applicants use evidence of the testator’s dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (and other mental disorders) to establish that the testator lacked capacity to execute a will. However, it is important to keep in mind that capacity is time specific. A diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, for….

Dementia does not Preclude Testamentary Capacity Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Elder Law, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Succession Planning, Testamentary Capacity, Wills

Limited Retainers, Lawyer Liability and Limitation Periods

• • 0 Comments

The recent Court of Appeal (“ONCA”) decision of Meehan v. Good, 2017 ONCA 103 (“Meehan”), reminds lawyers that the duty of care owed to their clients is extensive, and may operate beyond a limited-scope retainer. In Meehan, the plaintiffs, Michael and Anne Meehan, brought a claim against their lawyer, John Cardill, who they initially retained to pursue an assessment of the accounts of their previous counsel. The Meehans sued Mr…..

Limited Retainers, Lawyer Liability and Limitation Periods Continue Reading »

Dependant Support, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Liability, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Testamentary Capacity, Undue influence, Wills

Testamentary Letter of Wishes- Part 2

• • 2 Comments

In my last blog post of January 27, 2017, I discussed testamentary letters of wishes and some of the benefits and potential pitfalls of their use. For the purposes of the post, I limited the discussion to testamentary letters of wishes which are designed to convey a testator’s wishes and desires regarding the disposition of personal items after the testator’s death. This post continues the discussion. Another “pitfall” of letters….

Testamentary Letter of Wishes- Part 2 Continue Reading »

Estate Planning, Wills

And the Oscar goes to………..

• • 0 Comments

This Blog was written by : Natalie Rouse   The 2017 Oscars are just around the corner and last year’s drama “Manchester By the Sea”, starring Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, is sitting pretty. It has been nominated for a whopping 6 awards. It also recently won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, and was nominated in 4 other categories. The movie tells the story of Joe, who is a….

And the Oscar goes to……….. Continue Reading »

Estate Planning, Guardianship, Uncategorized, Wills

Will Challenges and the Well – Acquainted Lawyer

• • 2 Comments

Today’s blog was written by Jenna Ward, Articling Student, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin. A recent case of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan has emphasized the significance of first, the relationship between a testator and his or her lawyer and second, the experience and tenure of such lawyer in assessing testamentary capacity and by extension, in determining the validity of a will. Bachman v. Scheidt, 2016 SKCA 150 Bachman v. Scheidt….

Will Challenges and the Well – Acquainted Lawyer Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Credibility, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Testamentary Capacity, Undue influence, Wills
Scroll to Top