First off, you are entitled to condolences. Losing a spouse is a devastating event. It shatters your world and turns you upside down. You struggle with your new reality. Everyone is ready to give you advice and you are bombarded with questions. You need experienced legal advice…
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Do you expect to inherit a joint bank account? Then you’ll want to know what happened to Wendy. Wendy needed to a lawyer to fight for a joint account she held with Larry. When Larry died, Wendy thought she would inherit the $64,000 in their joint account….
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Are you a surviving common law partner? Common law spouses often have to fight to get a share of a deceased’s partner’s property. This is because Ontario does not automatically give cohabiting partners a share of property. Married partners in Ontario have certain automatic rights to share…
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You can use mediation to save thousands of dollars in legal fees. Many clients do not understand how mediation can settle their legal disputes. That explains why I have started a new series on mediation. Mediation can mean the difference between success and failure. You need to,…
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It’s summer and everyone gets invited to a wedding. Did you know that a marriage revokes all wills? There are exceptions for those wills expressly made in contemplation of marriage to a new spouse. In a Second Marriage Marriage creates new property, support and tax rights for…
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The other day, a client asked my advice about challenging a will. Her relative, let’s say it was an Uncle Fernando, had died 3 years ago without a spouse or children. Fernando had told everyone what was in his will: “I’m going to divide things equally among…
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By meeting privately, Alex’s lawyer can also investigate if there has been any financial, emotional or physical abuse of the father. Alex may be reluctant to discuss such matters with a relative in the room. For the elderly, a visit to a lawyer can make a difference….
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Lawyers have a duty to assess Jeremy’s father’s competency to make a will. This is a legal and ethical responsibility that lawyers have, especially in dealing with the elderly. Lawyers must be prepared to testify in court, if necessary, to defend the wills they prepare. This means…
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Most lawyers will explain to Alex, Jeremy’s father, why his son must wait in reception. Alex’s lawyer must meet with Alex alone so all information remains confidential. Alex must be free to ask questions about his intentions and options without anyone else in the room. The lawyer…
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“It’s important.” Jeremy said to his boss. “I need to take the afternoon off to take my 83-year-old father to see a lawyer to make his will.” When you take a person to a lawyer’s office, you need to understand the legal protocol. Even if you are…
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