Balancing fairness with religious and cultural customs in estates— The law requires equality between men and women. Following tradition may not stand up in court... 09 Mar

Balancing Cultural Tradition and Estate Law in BC

Couples may have many reasons for not getting married, but when a common law partner dies without a will, the living partner is left legally vulnerable. Here’s what you need to know... 16 Feb

Legally Vulnerable: Estate Complications for Common Law Couples 

A trust is a legal agreement between the person creating the trust, known as the settlor, and a trustee. The trustee is responsible for managing the trust's assets and distributing them according to the settlor's wishes. 14 Feb

Understanding Trusts: Estate Planning in Ontario

If you don’t select an executor or trustee for your estate, or if the person you named refuses to act in that role, then someone may apply to the court to be appointed as an administrator of your estate. 20 Jan

British Columbia: What Happens If You Don’t Appoint an Executor?

During this highly stressful and overwhelming time, it is important to remember that financial well-being can be critical to your path to mental wellness. These five steps are a good place to start... 11 Jan

Financial Well-Being: Coping with Debt After Losing Your Spouse

Millionaires Can Be Eccentric: The Great Stork Derby | Curated Content | Strange Bequests | Estates Gone Wrong 20 Dec

Millionaires Can Be Eccentric: The Great Stork Derby

In most cases, testators cannot rule from the grave. If you leave certain assets or gifts for certain individuals, you cannot unduly restrict their use of them. 02 Sep

Ruling From the Grave: Are Conditional Bequests Valid?

Selling Inherited Property: Tips for Executors and Beneficiaries | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Estates Gone Wrong 29 Aug

Selling Inherited Property: Tips for Executors and Beneficiaries

Family Cottage Succession: a Dream or a Nightmare? No matter how much you may intend to keep the property in the family, you should plan for the almost certain inevitability that at some point it will be sold. 05 Aug

Shared Ownership in The Family Cottage: a Dream or a Nightmare?

When it’s time to do your estate planning – and it’s actually never too soon to begin – you may find the process, at first, to be somewhat bewildering. Using a trust company can make things a lot easier when it’s time to plan and execute your estate. 06 Jul

Who Can You Trust to Help Reduce the Stress of Estate Planning?

What Happens if a Person Has Multiple Wills in Ontario? 28 May

What Happens if a Person Has Multiple Wills in Ontario?

Executors have a duty to notify beneficiaries of their entitlement under an estate, but what happens if a beneficiary can’t be easily identified or found? 14 Mar

Missing Beneficiaries: What Executors Need to Know