All About Estates

Month: February 2020

Total 20 Posts

“Birds Do It, Bees Do It, Even Educated Fleas Do It, Let’s Fall In Love (Cole Porter)

With Valentine’s day behind us, romance and sex continue to be alive and well. The baby boomers are getting older and while 60 has become the new 40, and 75 the new 60, healthy sex continues to be a favorite topic. However it may still be a subject that is…

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What is it you guys do anyway?

Today’s blog is being brought to you by guest blogger, Betty Laidlaw, a law clerk in the Private Client Services group of Fasken LLP. When someone asks me what I do for a living and I answer, “I’m a law clerk”, I often get blank stares.  When I say “paralegal”,…

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“It’s Not Fair”

This blog was written by Isabelle Cadotte – Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotia Wealth Management If you have a child, you probably hear these words uttered ad nauseam. Whether it’s because little sis got to eat her grilled cheese sandwich with the crusts cut off or big bro gets…

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Clash of the Limitation Periods

The Limitations Act, 2002, SO 2002, c 24, Sch B, brought order and clarity to limitation periods in Ontario. However, the Limitations Act did not displace all existing limitation periods established by statute. The Limitations Act carves out several exceptions, including the Real Property Limitations Act, RSO 1990, c L.15…

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Revocation of Wills

In the recent case of Sokalski Estate (Re), 2019 ABQB 285, the deceased left two wills one in 2011 and the other 2017, without expressly revoking the earlier one. The estate applied to the Court for a determination regarding which document or documents form the deceased Mr. Sokalski’s last will….

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Loving Again After Loss

As we head into the month of February, I  look forward to longer days and more sun shine. This month also reminds us that Valentine’s Day is around the corner. It is hard enough to find true love and to find it for a second time (or third time), is…

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Estates Law and Privacy Law: An Incomplete Intersection (Part I)

Estates Law and Privacy Law: An Incomplete Intersection (Part I) This is the first entry in a three-part blog series about the current state of estates law vis-à-vis privacy law. Part I will focus on the relevant federal and provincial privacy legislation. Part II will examine significant court decisions relating…

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The Unlikeliest of Events – A Helicopter Crash

This blog was written by Justin Ecclestone, Associate Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotia Wealth Management As a member of the Estate Consulting Team at Scotia Wealth Management, I find myself speaking with clients about how to avoid and protect against the worst-case scenarios. Let’s look at a common scenario….

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Yet Another Family Cottage Feud

In summertime cottages are the delight of everyone. But that dreamy cottage can turn into an estate litigation nightmare, as one family discovered in Donaldson v. Braybrook, 2020 ONCA 66. Margaret had four children: Wendy, Susan, Thomas and Barry. She allowed them all generous access to her cottage. In fact,…

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Yo, this is a shout out to Young Carers.

January  was Alzheimers’ Awareness Month and  on January 30th,  we also recognized and raised awareness for Young Caregivers. Many young carers,  defined by Stats Canada as young people between the ages of 15-24,  are helping their family members who are living with dementia. There are many carers who are much…

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