Poole v. Poole, 2026 ONSC 1545, 13 March 2026 In Poole v. Poole, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice was asked to resolve a familiar but often emotionally charged dispute: …
Can an Estate Be Settled Before Someone Dies?
Can an estate be “sorted out” or distributed early, before death especially where an Attorney pursuant to a Power of Attorney or Guardian is already in place? The short answer: …
Sometimes an “Email Will” can Work
Smith v. Bechtel 17 February 2026 In the recent Smith case, here’s a reference by the Trial Judge to another case: [28] The applicant relies on the …
Unsigned Draft Wills: Intentions Insufficient
Smith v. Bechtel 17 February 2026 In a recent Ontario decision, the Court was asked a difficult question:Can a draft will, never signed, still be valid? The answer: No. Not …
The Real Estate Agent’s Evidence Accepted
Lalli v. Lalli In multi-generational home purchases, real estate agents often sit at the centre of important family discussions about ownership, financing, and structure. In Lalli v. Lalli, the interaction …
Resulting Trust: Intention Matters
Lalli v. Lalli Court of Appeal (26 February 2026) Multi-generational home purchases are common across Ontario. But what happens when parents contribute significantly to a down payment and are not …
Power of Appointment in Estate Planning
A power of appointment is a highly effective and flexible estate-planning tool that allows a person you trust to decide how certain property will ultimately be distributed often long after …
Bank Fails to Transmit Senior’s Funds for Deposit
Question: A big bank just held up a deposit on a purchase because they suspected fraud! My client, a Buyer, a senior went to the bank in person to wire …
Choosing the Right Lawyer for Your Estate Planning
When it comes to preparing your Will and Powers of Attorney, choosing the right lawyer is as important as the documents themselves. You are not simply hiring someone to draft …
Mandatory Contingency Planning Matters
Lawyers Die Too Death is inevitable. Incapacity is possible. And while neither topic is pleasant to think about, both are realities that demand preparation. As the saying goes: Recognizing this, …