Do You Have a Receipt for That?

by: , July 20, 2021

Estate trustees are accountable to the beneficiaries of an estate for the steps they have taken in their administration. Estate trustees should keep a complete record of their activities and always be in a position to prove that they acted prudently and honestly, with accounts ready upon request by a beneficiary. But what happens when…read more

Supreme Court of Canada Unseals Sherman Probate Files

by: , July 7, 2021

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…read more

When does a house automatically go to a beneficiary?

by: , July 5, 2021

Just because you are a beneficiary of someone’s estate does not mean you automatically receive your entitlement. Instead, you will have to wait until it is transferred to you. However, in certain circumstances you may receive real property (e.g., a home) directly three years after the deceased’s passing. When someone dies, their property vests in…read more