Sentimental value trumps financial worth in some estate battles
In my many years of estates law practice, I’ve seen families fall apart over inheritances large and small.But every now and then, an ugly estate fight breaks out over items…
McDonald’s napkin recognized as a valid will
Just because a court can recognize a note written on a fast food restaurant napkin as a valid will doesn’t mean you should make it your estate plan. According to a recent ruling from Saskatchewan, Philip Langanjotted down his wishes at a Yorkton McDonald’s outlet several months before his…
Campaign seeks to boost charitable giving in wills
A national campaign wants to take charitable giving via a will mainstream. Will Power, which is led by the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and supported by at least 500…
Why you may need a ‘Titanic’ clause in your will
Contemplating your own death is hard enough for most people, but spouses drafting wills should consider the possibility they will die together. The chances of an accident or disaster that…
B.C. leads the way on fully electronic wills
B.C. is taking a step into the unknown with new legislation that allows testators to draft and execute fully electronic wills. Bill 21, which took effect in December, makes the…
In-person or online will-making? You decide!
It’s always great to have options, and recent developments have given our clients fresh choices when it comes to how they draw up their estate plans. One of the better…
Complex estates may call for a corporate executor
Testators with complex or contentious estates should think about appointing a corporateexecutor. Trust companies are certainly a more expensive option: you can expect them to charge a fee ofas much…
Tech companies update post-death policies
Testators need to get proactive about their digital legacies as tech companies update their rules for what can and can’t be done with accounts after a user’s death. Professional networking…
Surprise beneficiary of $1-billion estate sparks potential litigation
Unexpected beneficiaries are a recipe for estate litigation, as the simmering dispute over a publishing magnate’s $1-billion estate shows. Following his death this summer, it was revealed that Richard Robinson,…
Legal advice for testators more important than ever as Ontario scraps strict compliance
Getting legal advice is more important than ever for testatorsafter Ontario moved a step closer to recognizing unconventional wills. The Ford administration’s recently passed Bill 245, the Accelerating Access to Justice Act, moves the province from…
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