‘Wishing’ for will-drafting clarity
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 trust reporting rules in flux
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…
Sibling rivalry lands mother’s estate in court
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…
Digital asset controversy outrages online gamers
Users of a popular gaming platform are getting an introduction to the complex world of estates law and digital assets after discovering that they may not be able to pass…
Check title to avoid estate administration surprises
Performing a title search on your property as part of your estate plan could save your heirs both money and hassle. Title searches are more commonly performed as part of…
UK bans virtual witnessing as DIY wills continue to spur inheritance disputes
The U.K. has ended its experiment with virtual witnessing after finding it did nothing to halt the country’s growing tide of will challenges. According to the Daily Telegraph, remote witnessing…
New law set to clarify beneficiary designations by POAs
A new law could bring some much-needed clarity to the rights of substitute decision makers when it comes to an incapable person’s beneficiary designations on things like RRSPs, life insurance…
Grandfather’s estate must pay support to grandchild
In estates law, your spouse and kids may not be your only dependants. Ontario’s Succession Law Reform Act allows dependants of the deceased to make a claim against the estate…
Beneficiaries go to war over ring with ‘no monetary value’
The most valuable assets in the estate are not always the ones that would fetch the biggest price. Over my many years of estates law practice, I have seen plenty…
Over-55s lagging on estate plans
There’s no need to wait until retirement to get a will in place. According to a new poll by Angus Reid, 50 per cent of adult Canadians do not have…