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Wills & Estates

CRA’s new trust reporting requirements

This year’s tax filing season may be looking different for some people and corporate entities due to new trust reporting rules. These changes, while presenting challenges, also offer legal professionals an opportunity to educate their clients. Overview Previously, trusts were only required to file a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return (“T3”) under specific… Read More »

Categories: Corporate Law, Family, Online Only, Real Estate, Tax, Wills & Estates

Practice Tips for Wills and Estates Lawyers (2024)

This program brings together leading practitioners, including LAWPRO senior claims counsel, to provide key tips and explore some of the leading cause of claims in the area of wills & estates. Covering content of particular interest to wills & estates solicitors, the panel will discuss topics such as discovering assets and liabilities when will-drafting, avoiding… Read More »

Categories: CPD, Wills & Estates

Recent changes to wills, powers of attorney and succession law

The government has enacted 4 important changes regarding wills, powers of attorney (POAs) and to the administration of an estate with Bill 245 – Accelerating Access to Justice Act, 2021 which received Royal Assent on April 19, 2021. (See amendments in Schedule 8 – Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 and Schedule 9 – Succession Law Reform… Read More »

Categories: 2022 June - After Covid 19, Articles, Failure to Know The Law, Wills & Estates

How to lessen your risk of a malpractice claim when virtually witnessing wills and powers of attorney

[Updated April 24, 2020] As part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 7, 2020 the Government of Ontario released an emergency Order temporarily allowing the virtual execution of wills and powers of attorney by means of “audio-visual communication technology” as of that date. On April 22, 2020, a new emergency order was… Read More »

Categories: Online Only, Wills & Estates

Availability of insurance coverage for lawyers acting as executor or trustee

Estate lawyers will sometimes be called upon by a client to act as executor or trustee as part of their Professional Services. Depending on the complexity of the estate or trust, these appointments can last for years and involve a substantial time investment. As with other aspects of a legal practice, alleged errors in the… Read More »

Categories: LAWPRO policy, Online Only, Wills & Estates

Landmines for Lawyers When Drafting Wills

When it comes to mistakes and claims, the Achilles heel for lawyers in the wills and estates area is drafting wills: Making will-drafting errors – either because of poor communication, inadequate discovery or errors in law – is the single most common issue in claims reported in this area of law. In many cases, the… Read More »

Categories: Articles, Communications Errors, Failure to Know The Law, Inadequate Investigation, Wills & Estates

Statement on Re Milne Estate decision

LAWPRO is aware of the Re Milne Estate decision and we confirm that it has been appealed. We expect the appeal won’t be heard for several months. We hope the appeal decision brings clarity to how primary and secondary wills should be drafted. Lawyers that have drafted wills that may be impacted by this decision… Read More »

Categories: Alerts, Wills & Estates

Land Acknowledgement

The offices of LAWPRO are located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. LAWPRO respects and acknowledges the histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations.

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