The Probater

To View Our Newsletter

For Email Marketing you can trust

To view our newsletter you will require Adobe Reader.
If you do not have it, download it free by clicking on the link below.

Current Issue

December 2011

The Role Of The Lawyer As Estate Trustee And Estate Solicitor
Click here to download PDF

June 2011

A Better Tomorrow? Not Necessarily So For Estates
Click here to download PDF

March 2011

Digital Legacies: For Now and Forever
Click here to download PDF

December 2010

When is Dependant's Support Paid to an Estranged Spouse?
Click here to download PDF

September 2010

Estates of Indians: What to do in a situation of intestacy
Click here to download PDF

May 2010

Proprietary Estoppel: Not Just Another Equitable Remedy
Click here to download PDF

March 2010

The Estates and Trusts Bar Mourns the Loss of Rodney Hull, Q.C. LSM
Click here to download PDF

Archived Issues

Nov 2009	A Trustee’s Duty to Inform Beneficiaries: What is Expected?

Sept 2009	Some Friendly Pressure: Rule 74.15, Non-Contentious Orders for Assistance

April 2009	Plan ahead: Keep your vacation property in the family

Feb 2009	A Quartet of Practical Practice Tips

Nov 2008	The ABSENTEES ACT: it could happen to you

Sept 2008	Responsibility of an Estate Trustee to Search for Heirs

June 2008	Administering Estates: The Role of a Solicitor Revisited

April 2008	The Family Conference

Nov 2007	The Importance of Maintaining Estate Accounts

Sept 2007	Webster v. Webster - Limitation Periods and Equalization Payments: When is it too Late?

June 2007	Joint Accounts Update.

April 2007	This issue probes the implications of writing a will to benefit an intended spouse.

Dec 2006	This issue discusses a recent Ontario Superior Court case where a contract trumped a will.

Aug 2006	This issue discusses the limitation periods that apply to estate litigation proceedings.

June 2006	The provincial government’s recent paper regarding people who have a developmental disability

April 2006	Substitution disputes

Jan 2006	The decision of Bott v. Macaulay on estate solicitors' fees.

Nov 2005	It's a gift! It's a loan! It's an advancement!

Sep 2005	Late-summer double header: Ademption and the Substitute Decisions Act and costs in estate litigation matters

Jun 2005	Beneficiary designations of insurance and insurance trusts

Apr 2005	The Children's Lawyer in estate matters

Dec 2004	Attorneys under power of attorney of property and testamentary dispositions: the problem presented by the conversion of an RRSP into an RRIF

Aug 2004	Estate trustee's obligations to continue or commence litigation

May 2004	Death, taxes and Registered Education Savings Plans

Jan 2004	The duties of trustees to disclose to beneficiaries

Oct 2003	Corporate distributions - Income or capital?

Aug 2003	Insurance trusts

Apr 2003	Problems with life insurance in the administration of an estate

Jan 2003	The use of videotape when taking will instructions

Dec 2002	Hrab estate v. Vandor - Another twist on section 38(3) of the Trustee Act

Aug 2002	Preserving the Family Law Act election

Apr 2002	Rules change (2002) respecting the awarding, fixing and assessment of costs

2002	Precatory memorandums - Are they legally binding? Should they be disclosed? What are the Courts saying?

Nov 2001	Pretaking compensation in estates and trusts and by guardians and attorneys

Sep 2001	Secret trusts - What are they and are you watching out for them?

May 2001	Estate conveyancing - a checklist

Jan 2001	Alter ego and joint partner trusts

Dec 2000	Estate, not designated beneficiary, bears RRSP/RRIF tax burden

Aug 2000	Frequent causes of estate, trust and capacity litigation

2000	The ten most frequent causes of estate, trust and capacity litigation - a checklist

Feb 2000	Don't send a will out for execution by a client alone

1999/2000	Surviving spouse who elects under FLA cannot be executor

Oct 1999	Procedures and responsibilities of the personal representative respecting the ascertainment of heirs on intestacy or partial intestacy

May 1999	Amendments to Trustee Act - Prudent investor rule takes effect July 1st, 1999

Feb 1999	Probate fees - now probate tax

Nov 1998	Supreme Court of Canada - Income splitting is endorsed

1998	Re Eurig Estate - Where do we go now?

Jul 1998	Forfeiture of gifts in a will

Aug 1998	Will drafting - Preventing problems later

Jan 1998	Contracts not to contest the will

Apr 1998	A minefield to avoid when claiming against an estate

Nov 1997	Expert witness reports - new deadlines for service before trial

Sep 1997	Estate lawyers - Solicitor and client privilege alert