Wills

The Hidden Work Behind a Probate Application

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Does anyone know the current processing time for probate applications in                 ? Fill in the blank with the Ontario court location of your choice – it is a question that comes up frequently in our network of estates law clerks. So I was interested when I saw two recent articles in The Globe and Mail: “Even with a will, probate wait times can be all over the map” and….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Executors, Wills

Estrangement and its Implications on Estate and Succession Planning

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By: Rahul Sharma, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, Toronto An article in the Wall Street Journal published at the end of last month caught my eye.  The article, entitled: “Why Are So Many Adults Cutting Off Their Parents?” (Why Are So Many Adults Cutting Off Their Parents? – WSJ) explained that family estrangement is on the rise.  The article’s author, Elizabeth Bernstein, cites a 2020 book by sociologist Karl Pillemer entitled….

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Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Succession Planning

Buying Property Abroad? Consider these Estate Planning Issues First

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This blog has been written by Pritika Deepak, Associate at Fasken LLP Many Canadians dream of owning property abroad and many already do. Whether it is a winter retreat in Florida, a villa in France, or a retirement home in Costa Rica, purchasing foreign real estate can be an exciting milestone. However, foreign property often introduces estate planning considerations that are overlooked until it is too late. Before completing the….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Planning, International, Power of Attorney, Probate Tax, Property, Real Estate, Succession Planning, Tax Issues, Testamentary Capacity, Uncategorized, Wills

Excluded Property, Estate Freezes and Family Law: What Estate Planners Need to Know After Lang-Newlands v. Newlands

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Estate planners have long viewed trusts and estate freezes as valuable tools for succession planning, tax efficiency, and family wealth preservation. However, the Ontario Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Lang-Newlands v. Newlands, 2026 ONCA 530, serves as an important reminder that family law considerations can significantly affect the intended outcomes of an estate plan. For trusts and estates practitioners, the decision highlights the limits of relying on the Family….

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Contested wills, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Spouse, Succession Planning, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills

Equal or Equitable? A Conversation Every Estate Planner Should Have

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This blog has been written by Pritika Deepak, Associate at Fasken LLP. One of the most common instructions estate planners hear from clients is: “I want to treat all of my children equally.” While that may sound straightforward, it often warrants a deeper discussion. In estate planning, equal and equitable are not the same thing, and they can produce very different outcomes. A planner who fails to explore this distinction….

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Estate Planning, Wills

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

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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
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