Beneficiaries duel over dual wills
Drafting one will is hard enough for most people. But for some testators, a secondary will may actually be worth the extra effort. For several decades, Ontario testators have been…
Will-making and wellness
Making a will is good for your mental health as well as your financial health. I get why so many people push estate planning to the back of their priority…
Litigation over lost will depletes ‘very modest’ estate
If you think losing your keys is frustrating, spare a thought for the children of an Ontario woman who are still fighting over their mother’s missing will, years after her death. …
Judge imposes ‘moral’ duty on estate to support deceased’s estranged son
An estate’s legal obligations are not the end of the story when it comes to supporting the deceased’s surviving children. As a recent decision demonstrates, Ontario judges can enforce a parent’s…
Bank forms fail to eliminate joint account confusion
Bank forms fail to eliminate joint account confusion By Lisa Laredo, principal at Laredo Law. Joint bank accounts between parents and their children are often a recipe for estate litigation. …
POA must reimburse estate for $320k in unauthorized withdrawals
For those acting under a power of attorney for property, one duty stands above all others: the fiduciary duty. Attorneys for property are granted extraordinary power under Ontario’s Substitute Decisions Act.…
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…
Court validates notebook entry as a will
Can a notebook entry be considered a will? In Ontario, the answer is “yes,” as a recent decision demonstrates. But it’s not an example you should follow if you want…
Continuity plans a must for small and solo businesses
If there’s one disruption sure to give small business owners nightmares, it’s the death of the proprietor. But it’s a prospect that they need to consider if they intend to properly…
Stepdaughter inherits father’s RRSP despite faulty beneficiary designation
Beneficiary designations are a way for testators to make major changes to their estate with minimum effort. Although they’re often forgotten by testators, the beneficiary designations on things like RRSPs,…
