Family feuds are routinely unpleasant and usually ugly. Unfortunately, estate disputes prove the rule. Passions and emotions are inflamed and sound judgment is often in short supply. However, warring litigants who look to the court for absolution or vindication are often sorely disappointed.
As part of any administration, it is important for the Executor or Trustee to maintain records of all transactions taking place within the estate or trust
A court application to pass accounts can be a costly and time consuming procedure. As such, courts may be reluctant to order one without a compelling reason.
On Tuesday, September 29, I spoke at an OBA program entitled “The Family Business: Administration and Litigation of Trusts and Estates Holding Business Assets.” At the end of the program, there was an interesting discussion about the distinction between compensation for estate trustees and compensation for POAs or guardians of…
As a trustee or executor of an estate, you may find yourself managing existing or future tax disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) and the collections department of the CRA at the same time. In a blog written by Peter Aprile of Countertax Lawyers entitled the Canada Revenue Agency…
In two cases decided in 2010, the Court considered whether it was appropriate for an attorney for property to pay herself for care services provided to an aging parent
The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee has multiple functions and involvement in a diverse range of legal proceedings. Most estate practitioners are familiar with the requirements that the Public Guardian and Trustee be served with applications to appoint guardians of property and person and for court approval of settlements involving a person under a disability. However, there are a number of other statutory requirements that necessitate service on the Public Guardian and Trustee that estate practitioners may be less familar with.
How much compensation should be awarded to an estate trustee who has breached her duty of honesty and utmost good faith, was prepared to simply cut a cheque to pay out a claim against the estate without any investigation into its merits, and was prepared to use the threat of destroying the testator’s beloved pets as a means to try to extract benefits for her friends and herself?
Labour of Love…
Paul Penna, millionare and founder of Agnico-Eagle Gold Mines Ltd., had a good Estate plan but he made one critical mistake.
