Executors

Total 348 Posts

Choosing the Right Estate Trustee: When Poor Administration Comes at a Cost

This blog post was written by Mohena Singh, Associate at Fasken LLP. A recent Ontario Superior Court decision, Flowers v. Flowers, 2026 ONSC 3524, serves as a reminder that one of the most important decisions in any estate plan is the selection of an estate trustee. While many testators instinctively appoint a trusted child or family member, the role carries significant legal responsibilities. When those responsibilities are ignored, the consequences….

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Estate Administration, Executors, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee Compensation

Planning for the Long Game: What Happens When Your Executor Becomes Incapable?

This blog has been written by Karen La Caprara, Counsel, at Fasken LLP When contemplating estate planning, it can be easy to focus on a single moment: death. But estate administration does not occur in a moment. It often unfolds over many months, or years, particularly where there is a continuing trust, significant tax work, or illiquid assets. This raises a question that testators can easily overlook at the planning….

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Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Executors, Wills

The First Month After a Death: Practical First Steps for Executors and Family Members

This blog has been written by Caroline Caron, Paralegal, at Fasken LLP The weeks following a death can feel overwhelming. Alongside grief, there are practical responsibilities that often require prompt attention. Whether you are acting as executor or helping someone who is, a few clear first steps can make the process feel more manageable. Before turning to the specific initial steps involved in administering the estate, it is worth noting….

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Estate Administration, Executors

The “Surprise” Asset – What to Do When You Discover Estate Assets After Probate

Even with careful record-gathering at the beginning of an estate administration, it is not uncommon for an estate trustee to later discover an additional asset. The estate trustee may think they have prepared a complete list of all the assets owned by the deceased as of the date of death. Then, after the Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee (probate grant) (the “Estate Certificate”) is issued, something else turns up…..

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Executors, Probate Tax, Tax Issues, Trustee

Key Findings Relating to the Exercise of Trustee Discretion

A view over an old stone fence into a cemetary, framed by an abundance of trees in full leaf.

The recent case of Karrow v. Boghosian, 2026 ONSC 2425 (CanLII) is a detailed decision which warrants a thorough review. This blog will focus on the key takeaways from the case, which focussed on the duties of trustees in exercising discretion in administrating a testamentary trust. The applicant estate trustees brought an application to pass their accounts. The respondent Jordan Boghosian (“Jordan”) raised objections to the accounts and maintained that….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee, Trustee Disputes, Trusts, Uncategorized

A Novel Approach to Locating Missing Heirs

Much has been written on All About Estates about “missing” elements in an estate administration – missing assets, missing heirs, and even missing estate trustees. In the case of missing heirs, the executors have an obligation to take reasonable steps to locate the beneficiaries of the estate. Executors cannot simply distribute the estate to those beneficiaries who are easy to find, or assume that missing beneficiaries do not exist. While….

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Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Trustee
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