Are you the executor of an estate that owns real estate in Toronto? Any real estate in Toronto is likely worth a million dollars or more. So this question should interest you. Here is my answer. The one thing every executor of a million-dollar estate must do…
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Question 6 Are there foreign or business assets? Wouldn’t it be nice to travel to Europe? What if the estate has assets in another province or country? Will you have time and ability to manage assets in other jurisdictions and with different legal requirements? Are you familiar…
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Question 5 Is there real estate? Real estate is always a headache. Executors must keep real estate insured for fire and valuable contents. You must secure and inspect property. Can you change the locks? Can you access estate funds to pay insurance premiums? What if there is…
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You need to understand these common terms. You will find them used in most lawyer-prepared Ontario wills. I’ll explain the difference so that you can understand why they are crucial to protecting your loved ones. Let me assure you with this tip when you make your will:…
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Anita, like you, was an executor. She used her father’s estate funds to pay for her mother’s nursing home care for years after her father died. This was what dad had specified were his wishes in his last will. Anita never dreamed she’d have problems after her mother died….
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Allison was retired and 64 when she passed away in Ontario. She thought she was too young to need a will. She died without a will leaving a sister, Joy, in California and her brother in British Columbia. They wanted to administer Allison’s affairs. But they had no…
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It happens after every weekend. On Mondays, my office gets calls from people asking about probate. It usually goes like this: “I’m calling for a friend who is an executor. She wants to know how much you charge to probate an estate.” Sometimes the friend is really…
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You may be able to work with any lawyer to get through probate. But getting the right experienced estate lawyer is important. You can avoid problems later when you need to close an estate. Should you try working through the probate rules by yourself? That depends on…
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I have written a free report to help Ontario executors. It is called, Start Your Ontario Executor Journey Here. You’ll find it on my website. This report is based on my experience as an Ontario Law Society Certified Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law. I have included information…
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If there’s an active business to wind up and sell, will you be up to it? As executor, you can be caught in the middle of a shotgun clause in a shareholders or partnership agreement. Will you be able to handle the stress and get the best…
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