One of the more common reasons people tell me they don’t want a will is that it’s a “waste of money."  But a recent ruling delivers a powerful counter-argument, demonstrating…

Sharing property with your children has its pros and cons.  On the one hand, there are very good estate planning reasons for owning property jointly with a beneficiary, since it…

It’s time to close the POA gap.  That’s the name I give to the persistently lagging uptake levels for powers of attorney compared with wills.  Surveys of Canadians consistently find…

If there’s anything worse than a do-it-yourself will, it’s one written in a rush. I understand the money-saving draw of will kits – a longtime staple at stationers across the…

Ontario estates law may have caught up with common sense on the property rights of separated spouses after a landmark amendment finally took full effect.  Section 17 of the Succession…

As the cost-of-living crisis continues, Canadians are finding it easier than ever to procrastinate on making a will.   Parents and their children struggling with higher rents and rising inflation understandably…

Death binders are in style in estate planning and this is one trend I can definitely get behind.  The idea is for the binder to serve as a kind of…

Testators should take care when “wishing” for certain outcomes in their will. As the sister of a deceased Thunder Bay man recently discovered, not every wish, hope, desire or other…

Bare trusts are getting a reporting reprieve.  Beneficiaries of this common form of trust (and their lawyers) will be breathing a sigh of relief after the Canada Revenue Agency announced…

Independence is a virtue when it comes to administering an estate.  Considering the heavy weight of responsibility that comes with the job of executor, it’s understandable that testators reach out…