Dave Madan

The “Easy Solution” That Creates Estate Problems Later

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Most estate problems do not start with bad intentions or poor advice. They start with an easy decision. A parent adds a child to a bank account to make bill paying simpler. A couple downloads an online Will template to “get something in place.” A family assumes the oldest child will naturally take care of things when the time….

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Estate Planning, Wills

Why Estate Administration Now Feels Like a Never-Ending Series

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust If you have ever watched a true crime documentary or investigative series, you know the familiar structure. A death sets the story in motion. A Will appears. Family members gather, each with their own questions, assumptions, and expectations. By the end of the episode, the mystery is resolved and the estate seems to fall neatly into place before the….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications

Valuing Digital Assets: Lessons from the Counter Strike Market Crash

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Digital assets have become an increasingly common topic in estate planning. What once seemed like a niche hobby has turned into a meaningful part of some clients’ financial picture. From cryptocurrency to NFTs and even online gaming inventories, these assets can hold real world value, sometimes in the millions. Yet recent events in the gaming world have shown just….

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Estate Planning, valuation

When One Clause or Designation Derails an Estate Plan

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Recent decisions from the British Columbia Court of Appeal have underscored how fragile an estate plan can become when a Will is ambiguous, or when life insurance and beneficiary designations conflict with the testator’s broader intentions. These cases remind us that estate planning isn’t just about having a Will, it’s about making sure the pieces are consistent, coherent, and….

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Appeals, Contested wills, Courts, Estate Litigation, Insurance, Wills

Supporting Loved Ones With Dementia: The Peace of Mind a POA Provides

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Dementia is not just a medical diagnosis; it’s a family story that unfolds over years. Canada’s numbers are climbing—projections suggest more than 1.7 million Canadians could be living with dementia by 2050. That’s a lot of spouses, adult children, and friends carrying new responsibilities—and often facing urgent decisions. The simplest way to bring calm to those moments is to….

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Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes

AI Generated Wills: Can Courts Fix a Robot’s Mistake?

scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust   AI has started writing Wills. That might sound futuristic, but it’s already happening. Generative tools can churn out documents that look polished, formatted, and ready to sign. But what happens when those words don’t match what the person actually intended? Can a court fix an AI-generated Will the way it might fix a solicitor’s drafting error?   Think….

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Contested wills, Estate Planning
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