When Estate Trustees Cannot Agree: Why Ontario Courts Turn to an ETDL Two estate trustees are appointed to administer the same estate. They disagree about an asset. Neither trusts the other’s position. One wants to pursue a claim. The other opposes it. Meanwhile,...
What Are the Rights of a Common-Law Spouse When Someone Dies in Ontario? A couple can live together for twenty years, raise children, share expenses, and build a life together. Then one partner dies without a will. The surviving partner may be shocked to discover that...
What Happens If a Beneficiary Refuses to Sign a Release in Ontario? The estate is ready to distribute. The estate trustee sends the beneficiaries a final accounting together with a release. Most beneficiaries sign it. One does not. What happens next? This situation...
What Happens If an Executor Dies Before an Estate Is Fully Administered in Ontario? Most people assume that if an executor dies, another family member simply steps in and continues administering the estate. In Ontario, it is rarely that simple. An executor derives...
Can an Executor Be Forced to Make an Interim Distribution in Ontario? One of the most common frustrations for beneficiaries is waiting. Months may pass after a loved one’s death, yet no inheritance has been distributed. Understandably, beneficiaries often begin...
What Happens If You Die Separated but Not Divorced in Ontario? Many people believe that once they separate from their spouse, their estate plan automatically reflects that new reality. For years, that assumption caused significant problems. Ontario has introduced...
