All About Estates

Karen Watters

Total 21 Posts Website
Karen is a senior estates litigator who represents clients in a variety of proceedings including will challenges, dependant’s relief claims, guardianship applications, and powers of attorney disputes. Karen obtained her law degree from Queen’s University and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2011. More of Karen's blogs can be found at https://devrieslitigation.com/author/kwatters/

Don’t Take It For Granted: Court has Inherent Jurisdiction to Refuse Grant of Probate

The court has an inherent jurisdiction to refuse an appointment of an estate trustee even where the application is unopposed.  This inherent jurisdiction was affirmed by the Ontario Court of Appeal in James Estate (Re), 2024 ONCA 623, when it upheld the lower court’s decision to refuse an application for…

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Estate Litigants Take Note: Interest on Litigation Loans Are Recoverable

Litigation is not cheap.  Some litigants have little choice but to fund the litigation through loans provided by litigation lending companies.  While litigation loans may be more common in certain practice areas, such as personal injury, it is possible to obtain this type of loan for estate litigation. This is…

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Indemnification of Estate Trustees and Blended Costs Awards: A Refresher

A party needs leave to appeal when it is appealing only a costs decision. Leave was granted in the case of Pletch v. Pletch Estate, 2024 ONSC 1411 (CanLII) (Ont. Div. Crt) (“Pletch Estate”), where an estate trustee was not awarded any costs of the application.  In Pletch Estate the…

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Analysis of Undue Influence is Case Specific

The applicant in Roe v. Roe, 2022 ONSC 5821 (CanLII), was not successful in setting aside his mom’s will on the basis of undue influence and “insane delusions”.  He was the only son (of four) who was disinherited in his mom’s will.  This was a departure from the mom’s previous…

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Striking a Balance With Temporary Guardianship Orders

Conflicting opinions about what is in the best interest of an incapable adult is at the core of many guardianship disputes. For example, adult siblings may disagree about the level of care their parent should be receiving or where their parent should live. Although rare, sometimes the conflicting views are…

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The Deceased’s Knowledge of Parentage is a Factor in Dependant’s Relief Claims

Many of us know that a court can make an order for the adequate and proper support of a deceased’s dependants where the deceased has not done so. Part V of the Succession Law Reform Act, RRO 1190, c. S. 26 (“SLRA”) identifies the persons who could be considered a…

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“Hypothetical and Premature”: Challenge of Will, POAs, and Trust While Grantor Alive and Capable

A few months ago the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Palichuk v. Palichuk, 2023 ONCA 116 (CanLII) (“Palichuk”) which upheld the decision of the applications judge. The applications judge dismissed a guardianship application and awarded costs against the appellant. The appellant sought guardianship of her mom and…

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Proper Support Within The Wide Range Of Options

Determining proper support in dependants’ relief claims is notoriously difficult and highly fact-driven. A recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice is a helpful summary of the applicable law in dependants’ relief claims. It also includes an analysis of why the deceased’s framework and structure for her son’s…

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A Refresher: Knowledge and Approval and its Connection to Suspicious Circumstances

A testator must have knowledge and approved of the contents of her will. This is one of the requisite elements for proving a will in a solemn form. Knowledge and approval, and its closely related cousin of due execution, is generally viewed as an easier test to meet compared with…

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Costs where Will Challenge was Not Frivolous

On December 21, 2022, the Court of Appeal released its decision in Di Nunzio v Di Nunzio, 2022 ONCA 889 (CanLII) (“Di Nunzio”). The testator’s daughter appealed the lower court’s decision dismissing the challenge to her mother’s will (Di Nunzio v. Di Nunzio, 2021 ONSC 6689 (CanLII)). The daughter appealed…

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