Law360 Canada ( June 29, 2026, 9:50 AM EDT) -- Appeal by appellant from an order pronouncing a 2016 will in solemn form. The deceased, Joseph Bernard Szikora, left his estate to his children and former spouse, the respondents, and made no provision for the appellant, his spouse since 1994, consistent with a prenuptial agreement. The respondents petitioned for proof of the will in solemn form. The appellant opposed, alleging that the deceased did not sign the will, that it did not reflect his testamentary intentions, and that there were suspicious circumstances, including alleged discrepancies in the document, rebinding of the will, and forensic handwriting evidence suggesting the signature was not authentic. The judge found on a balance of probabilities that the will was signed in compliance with the formal requirements of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, and pronounced the will in solemn form. The appellant argued that the matter should not have been determined summarily on affidavit evidence, that the burden of proof was improperly shifted to her despite suspicious circumstances, and that the judge erred in rejecting uncontradicted handwriting expert evidence. The respondents maintained that the judge properly exercised her discretion to proceed summarily, correctly assessed the alleged suspicious circumstances, and was entitled to prefer the evidence of two attesting witnesses who swore they observed the deceased sign the will....