Preferential share rises from $200,000 to $350,000
Surviving spouses whose partners die intestate are now entitled to the first $350,000 of the estate after the provincial government boosted the amount in its latest round of legal updates. …
Take control of end-of-life care with a ‘living will’
Most people have felt their mortality a little more keenly than usual in the last year of pandemic living, and I’m sure many of us have wondered what would happen…
Clear wording can stop a will challenge
Clarity is critical when it comes to drafting a will. Beneficiaries don’t always agree on what particular words or phrases in a will mean – Ontario’s Superior Court hears will challenge…
The Perils of Do-It-Yourself Wills
Have you ever thought about using an online service to write a will instead of hiring a lawyer to draft one for you? After all, dozens of websites offer to…
12 Reasons to get a Will and Power of Attorney
On the first day of Christmas, your favourite lawyer gave to you 12 reasons to get a Will and POA: It’s never been easier: During the pandemic, Wills can even…
All in the details: Itemize personal property in wills to smooth blended family relations
Testators with blended families need to get detailed when it comes to drafting their wills.Second or even third marriages are no longer the novelty they once were in Canada –…
Automatic revocation of wills not all bad for newly married spouses
The provincial government should think twice before ending the automatic revocation of wills on marriage.The Law Times reports that Attorney General Doug Downey is considering scrapping s. 16 of the…
Money drives people crazy, but a will can take the edge off
In estates law, there is still not doubt why people say, “money is the root of all evil.”I’ve noticed that you never have to wait too long after the death…
When can I challenge a will?
Will challenges are not as easy as they look. U.K. news outlet The Independent reported on a study by a life insurance provider that found one in every five Britons, or more than 12 million people, would challenge a family member’s will if they were unhappy with their inheritance.
Don’t leave your will to the last minute
There is no such thing as a last-minute deal when it comes to making a will.In fact, the only bonus an estate planning latecomer can expect is an extra dose…