Estate Law
Estate Law
Digital media is something that was probably an afterthought, if a consideration at all, just a generation ago. However, a person’s digital assets are an important consideration today, and the story of an Ontario woman engaged in a four-year battle…
It’s not uncommon for parents to lend their children large sums of money, particularly when their children are pursuing milestones such as purchasing their first home, or working on post-secondary education. Whether or not the lending parents intend to collect…
“The devil is in the details” is an old saying that applies to many areas of life, including the law. In many situations, legal disputes boil down to one party’s interpretation of a single line or word in a contract….
As an estate litigation firm, Derfel Estates Law routinely represents clients involved in disputes about what should happen to the estate of someone who has passed away. Oftentimes, these disputes include multiple parties who each claim that they are entitled…
Receiving a large inheritance might seem like a windfall for many. What could be equally shocking is finding out that some of the money may have to go to the Canada Revenue Agency. In a decision recently issued by the…
There’s a saying that goes around from time to time that says a criminal cannot profit from their crimes. This might apply to someone in prison for a criminal act who wants to write a book, but they can’t profit…
When one person in a marriage dies, it’s natural to assume that their surviving partner will be able to remain in the matrimonial home. Of course, if there’s one thing the law teaches us, it’s that there are often unique…
Being named the trustee of an estate might seem like a lot of responsibility, and that’s because it is. Trustees, as well as executors, attorneys for property, and guardians for property are responsible for fulfilling a number of obligations in…
The Ontario Superior Court recently issued a decision that revisited the use of multiple wills (i.e. primary and secondary wills) as a means of decreasing probate tax, adding to the recent debate that arose around the use of such documents…
Estate administration is the process of organizing and distributing the assets of an estate to the beneficiaries. The executor is responsible for estate administration, including going through the probate process in Ontario, where needed. We frequently hear similar questions from clients…