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Posts By: Justin de Vries
37 ResultsWhen to Mediate
I recently attended a client meeting where the issue of mediation was hotly debated. My client expressed reluctance in participating in a process with a party that my client regarded as intransigent and obstinate. My client also thought that proposing mediation would suggest to the other side that our case was weak and we were…read more
Choosing a Mediator
Mediation is a common occurrence in estate litigation. Mediation is also popular in other areas, including family law and even commercial litigation. When choosing a mediator, I look for the following characteristics: Knowledgeable (has to know the law) Experienced at mediating (too many “wannabes”) Litigation savvy (knows the true costs and challenges of litigation) Empathetic…read more
The Doctrine of Abuse of Process
The Supreme Court of Canada had this to say about abuse of process: The doctrine of abuse of process engages the inherent power of the court to prevent the misuse of its procedure in a way that would be manifestly unfair to a party to the litigation before it or would in some other way…read more
Assessing Testamentary Capacity
An article was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in May 2007 and can be found at www.ajp.psychiatryonline.org. Among other things, the article considered the common cognitive screening tests used by the medical profession to assess testamentary capacity. By way of introduction, the article states: Clinicians and legal experts must understand that cognitive tests…read more
A Child’s Interest in the Family Cottage
Recently, a client came to me regarding the purchase of a family cottage. The client was obviously excited about his new purchase, and wanted advice as to whether he should include his minor children on title. As his children would ultimately inherit the cottage, he thought it would be a good idea to include them…read more
When is an Investment Property a Matrimonial Home?
In Debora v. Debora, the Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed that a property will be considered a matrimonial home even if it is owned by a company instead of directly by a spouse. The facts of the case make for interesting reading. The parties went through a religious wedding ceremony in 1987, but did not…read more
When is a Loan a Gift?
A father’s intention to gift his children a substantial amount of money and benefit a favoured charity at the same time, albeit indirectly, was at the centre of a recent case decided by the Tax Court of Canada. The case in question is Benquesus v. Canada [2006] T.C.J. No. 149. Gift giving has never been…read more