Lawyer’s Questionnaire Admitted to Probate as a Will

by: , November 4, 2013

Courts are sometimes asked to determine if a “testamentary-like” document is a will.  In British Columbia, an executor brought an action to prove in solemn form that a questionnaire that the testator (“Ms. Garnett”) filled out and signed before two witnesses shortly before her death was a will that could be submitted for probate. Ms. Garnett was…read more

When Co-Estate Trustees Cannot Agree To Sell The House

by: , October 8, 2013

While administering an estate, one of the most difficult challenges an estate trustee can face is the situation where a beneficiary continues to reside in a property that is an estate asset when the estate trustee wishes to list the property for sale.  When there is disagreement on this issue amongst co-estate trustees, an estate…read more

When Is It Too Late To File A Notice Of Objection To The Appointment Of An Estate Trustee?

by: , August 26, 2013

In a recent case, the court had to determine if a notice of objection to the issuance of an appointment of an estate trustee could be filed after summary judgment had been granted, striking another objector’s objections as invalid and a certificate of appointment had been issued to the estate trustees. By way of background, the…read more

Do You Need A Lawyer to Make a Will?

by: , July 22, 2013

Among the general public, there is a perception that despite being a legal document, creating a will does not require the services of an estate solicitor.  There are numerous do-it yourself kits and online services that offer a “fill in the blanks” approach to creating a will.  As an estate litigator, I usually see when…read more