This blog post was written by: Holly Van Schouwen, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Victoria It’s a sad time, A parent has passed on and the adult children are reviewing the Will. One or more of the children are named to provide oversight in distribution of personal effects (articles). This…
This blog has been written by Sandra Arsenault, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. On January 1, 2025, amendments to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit came into effect, introducing a top-up for eligible deceased individuals. While this reform is long-overdue, the net benefit overall for most individuals still fails…
Today’s blog was written by Jessica Butler, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. Managing and distributing household contents in an estate can be a daunting task, filled with both emotional and practical challenges. In this blog, we’ll explore the essential steps and considerations for handling household items in an estate, from…
I was intrigued by this group chat that one of my colleagues sent last Friday: “FYI – Just saw this – Beginning March 3, 2025, you can file your Estate Information Return online using the Ministry of Finance’s online services webpage at https://www.services.fin.gov.on.ca/OTP/Gentax/_/. Effective February 26, 2025, you will no…
This blog post was written by: Alicia Mossington, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust London Historically in Ontario, a Last Will and Testament was required to meet strict formal validity requirements to be considered valid. The requirements set out in the Succession Law Reform Act required a Will to be in…
Much has been written on All About Estates on the topic of missing heirs – how to find them, and what to do if you can’t. But what happens if you have missing assets? Perhaps you’ve been appointed as an executor of an estate where you have very little information…
If you have clients with assets outside Canada, they likely look to you for guidance to support drafting of testamentary documents. In a previous article we explored the considerations that should be kept in mind when assets are owned outside of Quebec, within Canada – given the civil law and…
When an entrepreneur dies owning shares or an interest in a foreign corporation, the executor is faced with a challenging situation. An estate with ownership or an interest in a foreign corporation raises specific and complex tax rules that leave the executor and family members hoping the deceased has a…
Today’s blog was written by Jessica Butler, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. When administering an estate, certain assets frequently come into play: bank accounts, a home, and often, at least one personal vehicle. While a Will typically outlines the transfer of a vehicle to a specific beneficiary, there are instances…
Mohapel v. Young, 2024 ONSC 1332 is a recent case which addresses the issue of will interpretation. The applicant, Iva Mohapel (“Iva”), sought an order that the respondent estate trustee, Doulgas Michael Charles Young (the “ET”), distribute the residue of the estate in four equal shares to her and each…