Wills, Trusts & Estates
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February 04, 2026
Alberta seeking greater role in judicial appointments, threatens to withhold funding for judges
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is asking the federal government for a greater say in judicial appointments and has threatened to withdraw funding to support any new judicial appointments in the province unless a more collaborative process is set up. In an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Smith also said Ottawa needs to relax bilingualism requirements for judicial appointments “that do not reflect Canada’s broader linguistic diversity in Western Canada and alienates Albertans and western Canadians alike.”
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February 03, 2026
Gift or loan? Courts weigh in on nature of financial support given by parents to adult children
When parents provide financial support to their adult children, is it a loan or a gift? While the question might seem straightforward, the assessment can be much more nuanced where clear documentation is lacking.
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February 02, 2026
WILLS - Variation
Appeal by appellant from an order dismissing her claim to vary her father’s will for want of prosecution and application to adduce new evidence on appeal. The appellant’s father died in August 2016, leaving three children and a will dividing the residue of his estate equally among them. Five days before his death, he transferred ownership of three condominiums to two of his children, Colleen and Brian.
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January 30, 2026
Ontario court orders new law licence review for man who admitted to sexually abusing children
Ontario’s top court has ordered a new law licence assessment for a man who admitted to the sexual abuse of children, saying a fresh look is required to determine whether he is of the “good character” required of a lawyer.
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January 28, 2026
A practical way for wills and estates practitioners to start using AI: document review
For many lawyers, including wills and estates practitioners, artificial intelligence (AI) may feel both promising and risky. On the one hand, AI offers the potential to complete comprehensive work more efficiently than ever. On the other hand, using AI for legal tasks may be outside a lawyer’s comfort zone.
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January 28, 2026
Top 10 business decisions of 2025, part one
Here is my annual list of the top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This two-part series begins with the cases ranked sixth through tenth, in ascending order. Part two will cover the top five cases.
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January 27, 2026
Estate law: The benefits of a power of appointment
Broadly speaking, a power of appointment is a valuable estate planning tool that is frequently conferred on a person, including an executor, and the trustee and/or beneficiary of a testamentary or inter vivos trust (the “donee”), in relation to the disposition of assets including a trust fund.
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January 27, 2026
Aird & Berlis adds 9 new partners
Nine people have become partners at Aird & Berlis. According to a statement from the firm, they are:
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January 23, 2026
OBA civil litigation award recipients encourage mentorship in the profession
The importance of mentorship and elevating young lawyers was a focal point of the Ontario Bar Association’s (OBA) Civil Dinner, which celebrates excellence in the bar. Both recipients of the OBA awards emphasized the vital position role models play in the profession.
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January 23, 2026
Can all estate administrators access legal advice given the estate?
Estate administration is not always a linear process. In many cases, particularly where the estate is subject to litigation, the original administrator may be replaced before the administration is complete. Courts often appoint litigation administrators or estate trustees during litigation to step into the role temporarily, managing the estate until the litigation is resolved.