As the estates bar knows all too well, a last will and testament can be the final chance for a person to communicate his or her thoughts, wishes and desires to the world. It is no surprise then that a will often reflects the idiosyncrasies of its author, whether in form or in content. Some […]
Fraud is not restricted to the living. Occasionally, a fraudulent testamentary document makes an appearance and the question of validity becomes paramount. In that context, the issue of whether to retain a “handwriting expert” is raised. Read the full paper here: Handwriting Experts and Trustee Indemnification by Justin de Vries
It is a fundamental principle that every trustee has the right to be indemnified out of the trust property for all expenses properly incurred in the administration of the trust. The trust instrument itself does not have to guarantee that the trustee will be indemnified; the trustee’s right to be reimbursed for expenses is a
Common Privilege Issues Faced by Estates Practitioners by Justin de Vries and Angela Casey
Under the Income Tax Act, it is the responsibility of the legal representative (such as an estate trustee, or the administrator of the estate if probate is not required) to file all required returns for the deceased on a timely basis, pay all tax owing, and advise the beneficiaries whether the amount they receive from
