From Pinky Promises to Promissory Notes: When Are Promises Legally Binding
While a pinky promise might carry a lot of emotional weight on a playground or between friends, it usually doesn’t stand up in court. For a promise to become a legally binding contract in Ontario, several essential elements must be present, including an offer, acceptance, consideration, and an intention to create legal relations. What Makes […]
Who Gets the Goldfish? Planning for Pets in Your Will
When drafting a will, people often focus on the big-ticket items such as real estate, investments, and personal belongings, as well as ensuring the care of minor children or dependents. But one important member of the family is often overlooked: the family pet. While most pet owners consider their animals members of the family, in […]
Partial Justice, Fully Upheld: Trustee Removal in MacBeth
In a recent case titled MacBeth Estate v. MacBeth, 2025 ONCA 360, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a motion judge’s decision that removed two former estate trustees and ordered them to personally pay $21,000 in costs. This case is significant for three reasons: it highlights the discretionary nature of both adjournment requests and trustee […]
Top 4 Executor Tips
If you have been named as the executor of an estate, here are 4 things to keep in mind. You Can Pay for Funeral and Other Expenses Even if Accounts Are Frozen The death of a person is like the death of a star; in both cases, the light continues to travel for generations. While […]
Job Title Catfishing: How Your Job Title Affects Your Entitlements
In today’s job market, titles like “Chief Executive” and “Manager” are appearing more frequently than ever. While they may enhance a LinkedIn profile or add polish to a resume, these titles don’t always reflect the actual responsibilities of the role, and can create challenges from an employment law perspective. This blog post explores the legal […]
When Cutting Out a Beneficiary, Don’t Use a Blunt Knife: Alger v. Crumb Estate 2023 ONCA 209
When Mrs. Crumb became estranged from two of her four children, she reportedly cut them out of her Will. However, she had already designated all four of her children as beneficiaries on her registered plans, which amounted to 40% of her wealth at the time of her death. The two children who had not been […]
New Home, New Savings: How the GST Rebate Helps You Buy Smarter
If you’re a first-time home buyer in Canada, navigating rising prices and high interest rates can feel overwhelming. That said, there is some good news. On May 27, 2025, the Government of Canada introduced proposed legislative amendments to the Excise Tax Act (Canada) to establish a new Goods and Services Tax (“GST”) rebate for first-time […]
The “Best Interest” Test in Family Law Disputes: What It Means and Why it Matters
When a marriage or common law relationship breaks down, parents must determine how they will make decisions for their children (joint or sole decision-making) and how time will be shared between the parents and children. The underlying test used by the court in cases where parents can’t agree on these matters is the “best interests” […]
Recognizing and Preventing Elder Abuse on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 15 marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a time to raise awareness about the prevalence of elder abuse, and remind and empower everyone to take action against the mistreatment of older adults. Unfortunately, elder abuse is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations. If you suspect someone is experiencing elder […]