Wills, Trusts & Estates
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January 08, 2024
Pallett Valo announces six new partners
Pallett Valo LLP welcomed six lawyers to its partnership as of Jan. 1: Ahmed Bulbulia, Monty Dhaliwal, Alan Kay, Andreea Muth, Lisa Sticht-Maksymec, and Maria Tassou.
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January 08, 2024
Three new partners for Aird & Berlis
Aird & Berlis has announced that Yosef Adler, Ryan Ghuman and Queenie Lo have joined the firm as partners and members of the firm’s corporate/commercial group.
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January 03, 2024
Costs submissions invites judicial ‘Oxymoron of the Year’ award
On Dec. 19, 2023, Justice Frederick Myers presided over a high-conflict estate case, Rai v. Bhalla, 2023 ONSC 7182, where the applicant identified 23 heads of relief against five parties, including the Public Trustee, and sought orders for the revocation of a power of attorney; an order for the appointment of a guardian for an elderly parent; an accounting of funds allegedly taken from the estate of the elderly parents; orders for a constructive and resulting trust; and a declaration that the family matriarch’s will was not valid.
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January 03, 2024
Federal Court mandates AI-usage disclosure; won’t use automated decision-making tools for now
The Federal Court is actively exploring how its judges and law clerks can use artificial intelligence tools to enhance the “efficiency and fairness of the legal system,” but Chief Justice Paul Crampton says the national trial court “will not use AI, and more specifically automated decision-making tools, to make its decisions or render its judgments, without first engaging in public consultations.”
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December 20, 2023
New partner, two new associates join Aird & Berlis
Aird & Berlis announced that Faye Kravetz has joined the firm as a partner and member of its tax, estates and trusts and tax controversy/tax litigation groups.
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December 18, 2023
Uncivil behaviour on rise amongst lawyers: report
Lawyers’ poor treatment of each other has become worse post-pandemic, according to a report by the Toronto Lawyers’ Association. The study, based on a recent survey involving 332 respondents from both Toronto and throughout Ontario, found that there has been a decline in “civility and professionalism” in the legal profession ever since lockdowns, self-isolation and other public health measures came to an end.
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December 15, 2023
Charitable donation shelter fails to provide protection in Tax Court
The promotion of gifting and charitable donation tax shelters was predominant for the last two decades and related appeals are still making their way through the courts.
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December 14, 2023
Court finds no irreparable harm over bid to revoke foundation’s charitable status
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an application concerning the minister of national revenue’s intent to revoke its charitable status, finding that the applicant would not suffer irreparable harm if the notice is published in the Canada Gazette.
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December 12, 2023
Ottawa opens pre-budget consultations for 2024 budget aimed at unaffordability, job creation
The federal government has opened public consultations which it says will “help inform” Ottawa’s priorities for next year’s federal budget, with a deadline for submissions of Feb. 9, 2024.
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December 11, 2023
Gifts through the lens of Doherty v. Doherty, part two
In the first article in this two-part series, we discussed the law regarding gifts in Ontario and how the court in Doherty v. Doherty, 2023 ONSC 1536 (Doherty) reinstated the law on inter vivos gifts. This article delves into the decision itself.