Family, Divorce & Domestic Disputes
ESTATES & EXECUTORS: How the Family Law Act impacts the administration of an estate
Restrictions on Distribution of EstateAfter the death of a spouse, no distributions can be made out of the estate during the six month period immediately following...
ESTATES & INTESTACY: Spousal statutory rights when there is no Will
Continuing the discussion of the effects of a Family Law election on various aspects of estate administration; its effect on intestacy is now reviewed.Effect on IntestacyIn...
ESTATES & EQUALIZATION: Spouses electing their Family Law rights and the consequences thereof
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for the surviving spouse to establish his or her entitlement to insurance proceeds and to survivorship benefits...
Drunk Driving Laws: Mixed Messages
The RCMP appears to be showing no mercy in enforcing B.C.'s tough new impaired-driving laws. An officer from Vernon, B.C. recently issued an immediate three-day roadside...
ESTATES & EQUALIZATION: How can a spouse elect his/her family law rights over a Will
The Equalization ClaimA right for the surviving spouse to make an equalization claim under the Family Law Act (“FLA”), subsection 70(1)(b), is possible only due to...
ESTATES & NFP: How your estate will be impacted by your spouse’s statutory rights
The Impact of the Family Law Act on Estate Administration The administration of estates became very complicated with the enactment of Ontario’s Family Law Act (“FLA”)...
Wills and estates of Natives
Administration and probateWhen the estate of a member of the First Nation falls within the jurisdiction of the Indian Act, the procedures for administration and probate...
Keeping your Trusts Clean
Cleansing Tainted TrustsA qualifying spousal trust could inadvertently lose its special status by inadvertently putting capital in the hands of persons other than the spouse. In such situations,...
Guardians of the Property of Minor Children
No one, including parent or custodian, has an inherent right to possess or control property or assets otherwise belonging to a minor child. They can, however,...
Guardians Chosen in a Will, and the the Children’s Law Reform Act
Guardians, Custodians, and the Children’s Law Reform ActConventionally, “guardians” of minor children are whomever the parent has named in his or her will to take care...
