Category: Wills & Estates

What happens if you die without a Will in Ontario?
Making a Will isn’t fun. Dying without one is worse. If ‘making a Will’ has been one of those things on your long-term to-do list but doesn’t seem to ever [...]
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Joint tenancy: It sounds simple, but is often a double-edged sword
by Timothy Sullivan What is joint tenancy? Generally speaking, property can be owned either personally or jointly. Joint tenancy is when people own a property together and the right to [...]
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How your Will may have changed without you realizing it
By Litigation Associate Christine McKeating You may think that if you’ve already written your Last Will & Testament, you have your estate planning completed. However, you may be surprised to learn [...]
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Life insurance: How it affects spousal and child support
  A topic that many people just don’t consider A recent Ontario Court of Appeal (OCA) ruling that allows a second wife and child to claim support from a deceased common-law husband’s [...]
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November is Make-A-Will Month!
It’s not as hard as you think I have to be honest: I’ve been a lawyer for a long time now with the gray to show for it and I’ve [...]
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Disinheriting a child: It shouldn’t take the family by surprise
  Avoid family conflict over disinheritance by being upfront There are circumstances in which disinheriting a child may be reasonable, and something that the other family members may support. However, [...]
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Wills: Not just for people with large estates
by Timothy Sullivan, Principal  We hear it all the time: “I don’t have much, so I don’t need a Will.” Preparing a Will is a conscious effort. From deciding to [...]
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Common law vs marriage: Legal relationships that sneak up on you
by Timothy Sullivan, lawyer “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage…” When’s the last time you’ve seen a horse or been in a carriage? You meet, date, [...]
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Avoiding probate just got a little harder. But don’t panic.
by Timothy Sullivan, Lawyer What is probate? Canadians are in the fortunate position that there are no succession duties or death taxes. However, some institutions or agencies require authentication of [...]
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Blended families make detailed Wills even more important
The law is pretty clear – which is why your Will should be, too Lawyers are often criticized for nagging clients (and potential clients, and family members, and friends) about [...]
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