Can a beneficiary under a Will sign as a witness to the same Will?

by: , December 2, 2024

When executing a Will, one of the requirements is that two different people witness the testator sign the Will and then sign the will themselves as witnesses. This seems fairly straightforward, right? For example, where someone uses a lawyer to assist them with drafting their Will and visits the lawyer’s office to execute the Will,…read more

What Happens When Someone is Found in Contempt of Court?

by: , September 23, 2024

This blog will act as a “part 2” to Joanna Lindenberg’s previous blog post about contempt orders found here, and will serve as a broad overview on punishments for civil contempt. When someone does find themselves in the ill-advised position of being cited or declared as in contempt of Court for disobeying a Court Order…read more

Duties of a Guardian and Attorney – Who is a “Supportive” Family Member of Friend?

by: , April 1, 2024

When a person is acting as a guardian (of property or of the person) or an attorney (for personal care or for property), there are many duties that they must observe and comply with as set out in the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 30 (“SDA”). Acting in accordance with these duties is…read more

Dealing with the Debts and Liabilities of an Estate and Abatement

by: , January 22, 2024

It can often be the case that there are debts and liabilities attached to a deceased’s estate. This can include things such as taxes and debts in the form of loans, credit cards and funeral expenses, among others. One of the most important duties of an estate trustee is ensuring that all of the estate…read more

What Do You Mean? Testamentary Intention and the Interpretation of Wills

by: , August 30, 2023

In the legal world, “testamentary intentions” refer to a person’s wishes for the administration of their estate and distribution of their assets after death. The last will and testament (often referred to simply as a “will”) is the document which sets out the testator’s (i.e. the person who signed the will) testamentary wishes. Problems arise…read more