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Lori Isaj provides an overview of the new rules, implemented by the Law Society of Ontario on January 1, 2025, relating to client contingency planning to account for what happens if a lawyer or paralegal in private practice, referred to as a licensee, is unable to practice, either temporarily or permanently, due to illness, incapacity, sudden absence, or death.
Learn moreAI is Here to Stay: How to Embrace it Instead of Running from it
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the future for all industries, businesses, and professions, including law. We can’t escape it, nor should you want to; if you learn how to use it properly, it will become an essential and productive tool in your practice. This article provides an introduction to AI in the legal profession and introduces resources to help you on your learning journey.
Learn moreRecent Amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure
On December 1, 2024, amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure in Ontario came into force to implement changes regarding the certification of authorities cited in legal documents and expert reports, as well as eliminating duplicate filing requirements for notices of application.
Learn moreOntario Estates Bench-Bar Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes - November 26, 2024
Bench and Bar Committee of the Trusts and Estate Section Executive | June 03, 2025
The last Ontario Estates Bench-Bar Liaison Committee meeting of the year was held on November 26, 2024. Topics of discussion during this meeting included appointing a guardian in a personal injury action, error notices, practice directions and scheduling, booking urgent matters, serving the OCL and waiver of bond in estate applications, cancelling bonds, tracking cases of s. 21.1 of the Succession Law Reform Act, and scheduling and court bookings at the Toronto Estates Office.
Learn moreOntario Estates Bench-Bar Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes - September 24, 2024
Bench and Bar Committee of the Trusts and Estate Section Executive | June 03, 2025
The last Ontario Estates Bench-Bar Liaison Committee meeting before the summer was held on September 24th. Topics of discussion during this meeting included applications to defer payment of the estate administration tax, update regarding amendments to the Consolidated Practice Direction Concerning the Estates List in the Toronto Region, Calendly Online Scheduling, tracking decisions related to s. 21.1 of the Succession Law Reform Act, and increased Processing probate applications at the Toronto Estate Office, among others.
Learn moreBrown Bag Lunch – December 17, 2024
Rebecca Kennedy, Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP | June 03, 2025
The final Brown Bag Lunch meeting of the year was held on December 17, 2024. Trusts and Estates section members were happy to gather one last time before the holidays to share practice tips and discuss some interesting trusts and estates issues.
Learn moreBrown Bag Lunch - October 17, 2024
Rebecca Kennedy, Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP | June 03, 2025
Members of the Ontario Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates section met, as usual, for the monthly Brown Bag Lunch, on October 17, 2024. Attendees raised some fascinating discussion topics and generously shared their experience and views on others’ questions.
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What to Expect at the 2025 OBA Elder Law Day: Championing Justice for Older Adults
Michelle W. Kang, Yang Wang Law Professional Corporation | May 28, 2025
Sign up for the 2025 OBA Elder Law Day on June 19 - an essential event for all legal professionals committed to advancing justice for seniors. Featuring expert panels, meaningful networking, a powerful keynote by Melissa Miller, and an OBA Award celebration honouring Jane E. Meadus, this is a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and lead with your fellow seniors’ advocates!
Learn moreBifurcation in Estate Proceedings
Krystyne Rusek, Speigel Nichols Fox LLP | October 18, 2024
At the recent OBA’s CPD Essential Updates on Court Processes for Estate Litigators, new rule 6.1.01 of the Rules of Civil Procedure was reviewed, together with relevant case law and the potential application of bifurcation to estate matters.
Learn moreOntario Estates Bench-Bar Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes - April 15, 2024
Bench and Bar Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section Executive | October 10, 2024
The last Ontario Estates Bench-Bar Liaison Committee meeting before the summer was held on April 15th. Topics of discussion during this meeting included applications to dispense with a bond, deadlines for notice of withdrawal of objections and request for increased costs, the process for dealing with errors in probate application, changes to the Succession Law Reform Act, Toronto Estates Office scheduling, court bookings and more.
Learn moreBrown Bag Lunch - September 17, 2024
Rebecca Kennedy, Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP | October 10, 2024
September marked the beginning of a new term for the Ontario Bar Association. With the new term comes a new series of Brown Bag Lunch meetings for the Trusts and Estates Law Section. This month's meeting addressed requests by banks to validate Powers of Attorney and the First Time Home Savings Account. The next Brown Bag Lunches will be held on October 15 and November 19, 2024.
Learn moreBrown Bag Lunch - June 18, 2024
Rebecca Kennedy, Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP | October 10, 2024
The final Brown Bag Lunch meeting for the 2024-2025 term was held on June 18, 2024. As usual, participants raised interesting discussion topics and generously shared their thoughts with other attendees. Some of the topics discussed this month include claims related to registered plans and disabled beneficiaries, the administration of the estate of an international student, and the transfer of the ownership of an RDSP.
Learn moreBrown Bag Lunch - May 21, 2024
Rebecca Kennedy, Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP | October 10, 2024
On a beautiful day in May, members of the OBA’s Trusts and Estates Law Section gathered for the monthly Brown Bag Lunch, where they discussed several interesting and topical matters relating to their practices (including administration matters involving the OCL, supporting materials for motions to dispense with a bond, allocation of income from Graduated Rate Estates among others).
Learn moreAngelique Moss and Demetre Vasilounis, OBA Trusts and Estates Law Section co-Public | July 11, 2024
The OBA Trusts and Estates Law Section’s Public Affairs and Policy Committee had a busy 2023/2024 term, having an ambitious list of projects on their docket. In this article, Angelique Moss and Demetre Vasilounis (co-Chairs of the committee) highlight some of these projects.
Learn moreAn Evening with Estates List Judges: Practice Tips and a call for Friends of the Court
Sydney Osmar, Hull & Hull LLP | July 11, 2024
The Ontario Bar Association’s annual Evening with Estate Judges event, put on by the OBA’s Trusts and Estates Law section, took place on June 10, 2024. In this article, Sydney Osmar offers some key take aways and discusses The Estate List Amicus Pilot Project.
Learn moreCourt of Appeal Upholds Purchase Money Resulting Trust Decision
Diane Vieira, de Vries Litigation LLP | July 11, 2024
In this article, Diane Vieira discusses the case of Bradshaw v Hougassian. This is a decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal which clarifies the legal requirements for finding a purchase money resulting trust.
Learn moreThe First Home Savings Account – A Key to Savings for First-Time Home Buyers
Jennifer Corak, Michael Ding and Sanaya Mistry, WeirFoulds LLP | May 28, 2024
With the increase in housing prices, the announcement of the First Home Savings Account (“FHSA”) in 2023 was welcome news for many Canadians. In this article, Jennifer Corak, Michael Ding and Sanaya Mistry discuss some key questions related to the FHSA, including at a high level what it is, how it can be used and what happens if an individual dies holding an FHSA.
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