Estate Administration

Replacing an Estate Trustee

Overview In some cases, an estate trustee (“ET”) has been appointed, but needs to be replaced before the estate administration is complete. This can occur for a variety of reasons: the ET becomes unable or unwilling to continue acting for the estate,  the ET is removed by the Court in the course of litigation, or […]

Advice to Beneficiaries, Advice to Executors and Trustees, Court Applications to Remove an Executor / Estate Trustee, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation

Can Estate Trustees Keep a Holdbacks for Legal Fees?

Right to Indemnification of Legal Fees Section 23.1 of the Trustee Act, RSO 1990, c T.23 confirms that estate trustees are entitled to be indemnified for the legitimate costs of carrying out their duties. In other words, estate trustees should not have bear the costs of the estate administration. This includes an estate trustee’s legal

Advice to Executors and Trustees, Contested Passing of Accounts, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Trustee During Litigation, Legal Opinions on Estate Administration, Other Claims & Remedies Against Estates, Passing of Accounts

Being a Spouse Matters: Two Examples

Ontario law recognizes two forms of spousal relationships: marriage and common law partnerships. While certain statutes may modify or create their own definition of common law partnership, the definitions found at s.1 and s. 29 of the Family Law Act, RSO 1990, c F.3 are the standard. As a reminder, in Ontario, a common law

Dependant’s Relief Claims, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Forms of Relief, Legal Resources

Interim distributions

As many people know, in addition to being expensive, litigation is often slow-moving and lengthy. In an estate with significant or contested issues, litigation can continue for several years. Even in estates without significant disputes, applying for a certificate of appointment and administering an estate can take many months. Further, once a certificate of appointment

Advice to Beneficiaries, Advice to Executors and Trustees, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation

What Do You Mean? Testamentary Intention and the Interpretation of Wills

In the legal world, “testamentary intentions” refer to a person’s wishes for the administration of their estate and distribution of their assets after death. The last will and testament (often referred to simply as a “will”) is the document which sets out the testator’s (i.e. the person who signed the will) testamentary wishes. Problems arise

Court Applications to Interpret a Will or Trust, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Other Claims & Remedies Against Estates
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