Legal aid services & estates law
The Legal Aid Services Act (LASA) received royal assent in July 2020 as part of the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act. The LASA is a step forward to modernize the legal aid framework for low-income Ontarians through a shift from a regulatory regime to giving Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) more flexibility to develop and adapt
Read MoreDecision highlights major difference between B.C., Ontario estate laws
On April 7, 2021, the British Columbia case of Jung v. Poole Estate 2021 BCSC 623 was released. In this decision, the testator who had disinherited his daughters in his last will and testament, had his will varied by the court which resulted in the adult daughters being awarded 70 per cent of his estate . As
Read MoreBig changes for small estates
This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily (www.thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. Big changes for small estates On April 1, 2021, the estates law changes from the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act came into effect in Ontario. The result of the bill raised the limit for a small estate to $150,000 and
Read MoreBill 245 and predatory marriages in estate law
Bill 245 and predatory marriages in estate law On March 2, 2021, Bill 245, the Accelerating Access to Justice Act, passed its second reading in the Ontario legislature. There remains to be a third reading before the Act can receive royal assent, but from reading the Hansard debates, it is optimistic that Bill 245 will
Read MoreEstate COVID problems part two: The importance of a will
Estate COVID problems part two: The importance of a will A common theme executors and loved ones are faced with is when their loved one dies without a will, also called dying intestate. In the first article in this series we wrote regarding the intestate succession process when a person dies without a will. Many
Read MoreEstate COVID problems: The rogue trustee
This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily (www.thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. Estate COVID problems: The Rogue Trustee A common theme in an administration of any estate is the breakdown of relationships between family members. Sometimes the estate trustee takes it upon themselves to make distributions that are not pursuant to the
Read MoreLawyers Care about Long-Term Care
Lawyers Care about Long-Term Care There has never been a time where a light has shone so brightly on long-term care homes (LTC), and it is not a pretty picture. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the system’s struggle to meet the most essential needs of residents. At a time where the situation is going from
Read MoreHow you can learn conflict resolution from Harry Potter
In Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling’s iconic seven-part fantasy series, the titular character studies at an English boarding school for wizards called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he learns the magic he needs to navigate the wizarding world and defeat the evil Lord Voldemort. Bernard Mayer’s Wheel of Conflict and Resolution, which contains the five
Read MorePART 2: Gap in the law: Exposure to your ex even when you have a will
This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily (www.thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. Gap in the law: Exposure to your ex even when you have a will In part one of this series we discussed the significant and often unexpected problems that can arise when a separated spouse dies without a will. We
Read MorePart 1: Gap in the Law: Exposure to your Ex when you Don’t have a Will
This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily (www.thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. Gap in the Law: Exposure to your Ex when you Don’t have a Will The pandemic has put relationships to the test – and not all seems to be passing. Spousal separations are expected to increase, with a likely spike
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