Articles 2020

A reminder to the profession: estate administration tax rates change effective January 1, 2020, as do deadlines for Estate Information Returns. Update your probate fee calculators and tickler systems accordingly!

In several common scenarios, an estate trustee may have to post a bond before the court will grant probate. Estate trustees routinely ask the court to waive the bond requirement, but the application process is more rigorous than many estates practitioners appreciate. Don't have your client's application needlessly rejected. This article, Part 1 of a two-part series, highlights common mistakes and oversights. Part 2 will explain how to obtain a bond, if it becomes necessary.

Highlights from the October 15 meeting of the OBA's Brown Bag Lunch program for estates and trusts practitioners, including discussion of common probate issues, insolvent estates, electronic estate-planning tools, and the purpose (or lack thereof) of survivorship clauses.

Highlights from the September 17, 2019 Brown Bag Lunch, including discussions of multiple wills, best practices when a parent wishes to disinherit a child, assessing capacity via Skype, and many other issues relevant to an estates and trust practice.

PBSC's University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Chapters are currently recruiting Lawyer Supervisors to assist with the operation of two Toronto-based pro bono clinics that provide wills, powers of attorney for property and personal care, and reporting letters for low-income individuals.

Highlights from the May 14, 2019 Brown Bag Lunch, including a discussion on the recent Court of Appeal decision in Quaggiotto v. Quaggiotto, the taxation of power of attorney fees and estate administration issues.

The Advocates Centre for the Elderly has issued an urgent message to its stakeholders requesting their support with respect to the recent cuts to Legal Aid Ontario by $133 million, retroactive to April 1, 2019, in the most recent provincial budget. Please continue reading for details on how you can provide your support to ACE and other organizations affected by the cuts.

An overview of the current law on solicitor's negligence applicable to estates and trusts practitioners and some practice tips to avoid a claim in negligence.