Estate Administration

Total 493 Posts

Case Comment: Huang v. Nie, 2024 ONSC 2398

As many of our readers may know, estate trustees have a duty to account to the beneficiaries of an estate for the property they administer. Beneficiaries are entitled to be kept informed and can reasonably expect transparency and communication from the estate trustee in this regard. Oftentimes, an estate trustee will deliver accounts to beneficiaries to demonstrate what funds have come into the estate, and what funds have been paid….

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Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee, Uncategorized

Refresher On Dealing With Foreign Grants In Ontario

Quite often, we are contacted by law firms in foreign jurisdictions requesting assistance in resealing or confirming a foreign grant in Ontario to deal with assets located in Ontario. My colleague Emily Hubling and I reviewed this topic back in 2019 (https://allaboutestates.devrieslitigation.com/probate-becomes-international-affair/) and today’s blog is a refresher on the process of resealing or confirming a foreign grant, taking into account changes to the forms and court processes that have….

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Estate Administration, International, Uncategorized

From Estate to Heir: Who Foots the Bill for Shipping Expenses?

One of the main duties of an executor is to distribute the assets of an estate according to the terms of the Will. Typically, it is easy to pay a cash legacy to a beneficiary or to deliver a specific bequest if the beneficiary lives nearby. But what happens if you have to send large pieces of furniture, an expensive art collection, or a prized collector car to a beneficiary….

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Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Executors, Trustee, Wills

A Revisit of Benjamin Orders

When I was in private practice, I almost applied for a Benjamin order on an estate file until I was saved by the Registrar’s record that the sole heir had in fact predeceased the deceased.  The result was one that ended well since the sole niece who had spent a great deal of time and effort caring for the deceased ended up inheriting the entire estate. A Benjamin order comes from Benjamin,….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications

Inheritance Tax – Why should you care?

The Canadian concept of taxing the deceased by deeming a disposition at death is contrary to many countries where the inheritance tax is paid by the heirs upon receiving money or properties from a deceased person. In other words, while Canada taxes the deceased on death, most countries – notably most countries in the European Union (EU) – tax the beneficiaries. Therefore, any proceeds received as a consequence of death….

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Estate Administration, International, Tax Issues

Removing and Replacing An Incapable Estate Trustee

Cartoon of a big white brain behind an older adult walking with a cane to represent dementia.

Andrew Coates, Associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Betty Laidlaw contributed an informative two-part series in 2023 regarding “What Happens If Something Happens to Your Executor?” In the second part, Betty explained the process for the alternate executor named in a Will making an application for a Certificate of Appointment of Succeeding Estate Trustee with a Will under Rule 74.06 of the Rules of Civil Procedure in the circumstance where the….

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Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Executors, Trustee
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