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Posts By: Gillian Fournie
45 ResultsRenounce, Remove, or Pass Over – What’s the Difference?
Not everyone is well suited or willing to act as an estate trustee – the job can be onerous and family dynamics can make it especially challenging. As a result, the person named as an estate trustee in a will, or who has the first right to act as estate trustee under the Estates Act,…read more
Can Estate Trustees Keep a Holdbacks for Legal Fees?
Right to Indemnification of Legal Fees Section 23.1 of the Trustee Act, RSO 1990, c T.23 confirms that estate trustees are entitled to be indemnified for the legitimate costs of carrying out their duties. In other words, estate trustees should not have bear the costs of the estate administration. This includes an estate trustee’s legal…read more
Being a Spouse Matters: Two Examples
Ontario law recognizes two forms of spousal relationships: marriage and common law partnerships. While certain statutes may modify or create their own definition of common law partnership, the definitions found at s.1 and s. 29 of the Family Law Act, RSO 1990, c F.3 are the standard. As a reminder, in Ontario, a common law…read more
Cost Awards: A Breakdown
One of the most common concerns voiced by litigants is how they can recover their costs of the litigation. In Ontario, you do not need to bring a separate claim against the opposing party to recover your legal fees. Rather, at the end of the litigation (or at the end of a particular step of…read more
Multi-Generational Family Homes and Unjust Enrichment
Living in a multi-generational family home can make home ownership more affordable. The parent likely purchased the home at a time when homes were more affordable. As the parent(s) ages and retires, the adult children take on more of the responsibility for maintenance, upkeep, and expenses of the property. While pooling resources in this way…read more
Court Approval of a Settlement – A Refresher
There are many reasons parties may settle a lawsuit: a settlement mitigates the risks of losing in court, and puts an end to the emotional and financial drain of litigation. If all the parties to the litigation are capable adults, there is no barrier to reaching (and implementing) a settlement: once the settlement agreement is…read more
How Do Judges Decide Who Is Lying?
In nearly every lawsuit, opposing parties put forward different versions of events. After listening to the conflicting evidence, the judge has to make a decision about what really happened. The judge’s determination often hinges on an assessment of the reliability and credibility of the witnesses. Deciding whether a witness is reliable and credible is not…read more
Dead or Alive? It May Take Seven Years to Determine
Doing the work of an estate trustee can be demanding and thankless. It usually involves endless paperwork and multiple visits to the bank. However, the job is made much more difficult when it is unclear whether the deceased is, in fact, dead. While it may seem obvious, death is usually confirmed by examining a body….read more
Am I a Spouse? The Mystery of Spousal Benefits
Under the laws of Ontario, certain rights and benefits are conveyed to a “spouse.” However, there is not a universal definition of “spouse”: whether you qualify for spousal benefits depends on the governing statute. Below is a summary of some of the most common rights and benefits sought by a “spouse” on the death of…read more
Examinations and Experts Don’t Mix
Today’s blog was written by Chris Cook, student-at-law at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP. Examinations for discovery are a key step in the civil litigation process. By allowing parties to ask questions of the opposing party and witnesses before trial, the parties are able to gain a better understanding of relevant facts and documents. After examinations…read more