Estate litigation cases often deal with multifaceted issues where family members feud about a variety of matters. Will challenges, dependant relief applications and passings of accounts are a few of the types of disputes which result in extensive, protracted and lengthy litigation. In such circumstances, parties often look to appoint an estate trustee during litigation […]
The law is constantly evolving and being refined. Most recently, a provision was added to Part II of the Succession Law Reform Act (the “SLRA”), which deals with how an estate is to be distributed when there is no will. In particular, on January 1, 2022, section 43.1 was amended to add that there is
An estate trustee is entitled to compensation for work performed in that capacity on behalf of an estate. Subject to any fee or compensation agreement, the general rule in Ontario is that an estate trustee is entitled to compensation in the amounts of 2.5% of all capital receipts and disbursements, and 2.5% of all revenue
On June 11, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada released its highly-anticipated decision in Sherman Estate v. Donovan, in which the Court ordered that the Sherman probate files be unsealed. In its ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the open-court principle and freedom of the press as fundamental pillars of Canadian democracy. Background The
Legal capacity can be a difficult concept to understand. For those who are concerned about a loved one’s ability to care for herself or to make financial decisions, the answer to the question of whether their loved one has capacity may seem obvious. Forgetfulness, confusion, and even mild dementia are often viewed as indicative of
