Duelling sisters removed as co-trustees can add up to trouble
There is no such thing as strength in numbers when it comes to estate trustees. Considering how challenging the job of executor is, I can understand the logic of a…
Succession planning lacking among Ontario’s small businesses
Succession planning for small business owners is not a job that can be rushed, but a new survey suggests that many Ontario employers need to get a move on. According…
Punitive damages awarded against rogue executor
Drafting a will is not just about who gets what. One critical decision often overlooked by testators is the appointment of an executor – also known as the estate trustee –…
‘Fill-in-the-blanks’ will kit ends up in court
A Do-it-yourself will may save you some money now, but it will probably cost your beneficiaries later. The problem for testators who go it alone without the benefit of legal…
Boomers lagging on estate planning
Baby Boomers need to get a move on with their estate plans. Investment Executive magazine recently reported on a survey of Boomers that found a stunning 44 per cent of those…
Beware joint ownership risks during estate planning
Testators should know the risks before using joint ownership as an estate planning tool. There are certainly good reasons for owning property jointly with a beneficiary – top among them its…
Will’s disappearance sparks estate litigation
Having gone to the trouble of drafting a will, you don’t want to undo your good work by letting it get lost. If the original version of your will can not…
You’re never too young to make a will
A recent fall in life expectancy rates is a reminder that you’re never too young to make a will. Between 2020 and 2022, the life expectancy of the average North…
Charity accuses executor of misappropriating $400k from estate
A charity’s pursuit of $400,000 in missing estate funds should remind testators just how important it is to choose the right executor. According to a recent CBC news story, the…
Don’t let ‘substantial compliance’ success breed complacency
The era of “substantial compliance” is well underway in Ontario. Just over two years after lawmakers at Queen’s Park passed Bill 245, the Accelerating Access to Justice Act – moving…
