Today, over half of Canadians own a pet. However, a recent survey shows only 7% of pet owners have made formal arrangements for them. If there is no provision in your estate plans, your beloved pet might not be taken care of in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed.
Earlier this week, our group gathered to celebrate our colleague’s impending arrival of a new baby. It was a delightful occasion, with cake, presents, and well-wishes. Of course, conversation naturally turned to the preparations that our team member has made for her new addition. Parents-to-be typically spend a lot of…
Today’s Blog was written by Jessica Butler, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. Nicolas Puech (“Nicolas”), the 80 year old fifth-generation descendant of Thierry Hermès, founder of renowned fashion house, Hermès, made headlines in December when he announced that he plans to bequeath at least half of his fortune to his…
This post was written by Alicia Mossington, Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotiatrust. Specialists in estate planning recognize the value and importance of having a well-prepared estate plan. Many of my fellow authors have articulated the importance of a comprehensive will and estate plan. Those involved in estate administration have…
Production of documentary evidence and examinations are key parts of the litigation process as a matter proceeds towards trial. In some cases, an applicant may wish to examine non-parties, in addition to the opposing litigants. In an estates context, these can include family members of the deceased, accountants or solicitors…
As planners working with elderly clients and their families, we encourage people to plan their lives until the end of life and document their wishes for the care of their body after death. People often express their wish to return to a rural community for burial. However, since the COVID…
Today’s Blog was written by Courtney Lanthier, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP Can it? Probably. Should it? Probably not. While the use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) seems to be a rising trend these days, it’s important to note that even though it has certain capabilities, that doesn’t mean it should…
Today’s blog was written by Douglas Buchmayer, partner with the Ottawa office of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP A common issue facing estate planning practitioners in Eastern Ontario is the Ontario resident client owning Quebec assets, often the family cottage, which need to be dealt with in a Will. Where a…
We had a Zoom call with our adult children a few weekends ago. We talked about our son’s engagement, as our daughter hadn’t yet heard the details of how he had proposed. We also talked about our daughter’s recent 5K run at the Toronto Zoo and how it compared to…
The question of whether will challenges fall under the standard two-year limitation period has long been a topic of consideration in lower courts[1]. Does the limitation clock start ticking at the date of death, upon discovering the existence of another will, or when there is knowledge of both the existence and content of another will? The Court of Appeal has finally spoken on the issue … well, sort of.
