News & Resources

News & Resources

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Article

What Is Probate and When Is It Required?

January 2023
If you are an executor of an estate or are named in a will as a beneficiary, you may be wondering, "What is probate?" Probate is the legal process of being appointed by the Court as the estate trustee of a deceased person's estate. If there is no will, the estate will be distributed according to...
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Article

Estate Planning: Advice & Best Practices For Reducing or Eliminating Probate Tax

December 2022
There are several important factors to consider when estate planning, especially if you’d like to eliminate the need for probate, minimize probate tax, and make it easier on your loved ones upon your passing. This includes creating a will, considering joint ownership, making beneficiary...
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Article

The Duties of an Estate Trustee

November 2022
When a person passes away, their estate is usually administered by an executor or estate trustee. The duties of an estate trustee are numerous and varied, but can broadly be divided into two categories: administering the estate and distributing the assets. Another main duty of the trustee is to...
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Article

Key Amendments to the Succession Law Reform Act

March 2022
For over two years, the pandemic has greatly impacted our way of life and has highlighted our modern society’s need for flexibility. The practice of law has been of no exception. Bill 245 - Accelerating Access to Justice Act , 2021, S.O, 2021, c.4 received royal assent on April 19, 2021,...
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News

Kelly Santini Presents IBPoC Emerging Artist Award

January 2021
Kelly Santini is honoured to be presenting this year's Ottawa Arts Council Emerging Artist Award . The award recognizes and encourages the achievements of Ottawa artists who are in the early stages of their career in the arts and are working towards becoming recognized professional artists, while...
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Article

As if COVID Wasn’t Bad Enough, Now We Have Zombies

October 2020
Just in time for Halloween. A zombie deed is a document which is signed during a property owner’s lifetime but registered on title after the owner dies. In modern legal terminology, this should be referred to by the less catchy name of “zombie acknowledgment and direction”. In a relatively recent...
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Article

Avoiding Conflicts Over Compensation For Estate Trustees

December 2019
An estate trustee is entitled to compensation for his/her endeavours in the administration of an estate. However, the quantum of compensation can result in litigation if the beneficiaries perceive the proposed amounts to be unreasonable. A recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court provides...
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Article

Don't Leave a Mess: 5 Reasons Your Heirs Need You to Make a Will

October 2019
When someone dies without having made a will, they are referred to as having died “intestate”. When someone dies intestate, administering their estate is more complicated compared to someone who dies having made a will. To begin with, it is highly likely that in order to properly administer an...
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