Kathy had always been told she would be her aunt’s Ontario estate trustee or executor. Kathy was too shy to ask where her aunt’s original will was stored. Then Kathy got a nasty Boxing Day surprise. Suddenly, her aunt passed away and Kathy could not locate the… Read full article
Your Simple Guide to Avoiding Costly Mistakes on Your Estate Journey The Executor Roadmap helps you reduce stress, focus your time and efforts. Handling another person’s money puts tremendous responsibility on you. Take heart. Most executors have no experience. But you need professional guidance to complete your… Read full article
This is a continuation from Part 1, which you can read here. Estate Court Probate Process The estate court staff review estate court applications. They check for issues and can request extra materials. If mistakes or incomplete information are filed, the process can be delayed. Original documents may… Read full article
This post explains part of the probate estate process in Ontario. It does not explain your legal duties if you are an estate personal representative, executor or estate trustee. You should obtain legal advice before you act as an executor or an estate trustee. The sooner you… Read full article
Laura was in a panic after her sister, Sue, died without a will. She called me because she needed to arrange Sue’s funeral. Laura lived outside of Ontario and planned to take a week off work. “I have to handle my late sister Sue’s estate. I hope… Read full article
Edward F. Olkovich was featured in Probate & Property magazine. His bio appears in the 2017 November-December issue of the magazine, a publication of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association. Read Ed’s profile as it appears in the issue. … Read full article
Jonathan called me because his uncle Peter died. “What rights do I have as a beneficiary under Peter’s will? When do beneficiaries need to get legal advice?” “This is a common question when someone dies,” I said. “Your legal rights depend on if you are named in… Read full article
Are you an estate beneficiary or expect to become one? Then you have to trust executors to deliver your inheritance. And executors, you can’t do your job without understanding your fiduciary duties. Are you waiting to inherit or are you an executor? Here’s what you need to… Read full article
What assets are included for probate purposes? Not all assets must go through probate. If you are married and acting as executor for your spouse, you will be relieved to know this. Certain assets are not included in the probate process: 1. Jointly owned assets like joint… Read full article
What is involved when you probate an estate? Probate is a legal process that certifies who is entitled to control the estate as executor. It also decides who shares in the estate (beneficiaries). Technically, a will is probated and an estate is administered. Most people informally refer… Read full article
416 769 - 9800