Gillian Fournie

Renounce, 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, […]

Advice to Beneficiaries, Advice to Executors and Trustees, Court Applications to Remove an Executor / Estate Trustee, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Trustee During Litigation, Other Claims & Remedies Against Estates

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

Advice to Executors and Trustees, Contested Passing of Accounts, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Trustee During Litigation, Legal Opinions on Estate Administration, Other Claims & Remedies Against Estates, Passing of Accounts

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

Dependant’s Relief Claims, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Forms of Relief, Legal Resources

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

Joint Assets, Trusts
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