NoticeConnect Blog

25 February 2021 TAGS: Case Law

Case Brief - Standing and financial gain

In Moses v. Moses, 2021 ONSC 587, the S.C.J. considered whether a son had standing to challenge his father's will, given that the father's previous will also left nothing to his son.

24 February 2021 TAGS: PracticeConsiderations

Accelerating Access to Justice Act

We are a year into life with Covid-19 and while we’ve certainly adjusted to the changes introduced by the Ontario Government in an effort to modernize the justice system, there are more noteworthy changes that will likely come into effect this April.

22 February 2021 TAGS: Estate Law

New regulations approve NoticeConnect in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has updated its estate administration rules and now requires Notices to Claimants to be published on NoticeConnect.

17 February 2021 TAGS: Search

Locate Missing Wills with the Canada Will Registry

Submitting a search with the Canada Will Registry is simple and takes less than five minutes. All you have to do is tell us who you are, whose will you're searching for, and how to reach you. Follow these simple steps below to submit a search for any estate.

29 January 2021 TAGS: Will Registry

Case Study - Finding a Missing Will with the Canada Will Registry

Davies Spina Falquez LLP (“DSF”) is a law firm in Toronto that discovered a missing will as a direct result of searching the Canada Will Registry. Susan Davies, founder and partner at DSF, has been using NoticeConnect since 2017.

29 January 2021 TAGS: Case Law

Case Brief - Void for uncertainty?

In Barsoki v. Wesley, 2020 ONSC 7407, the SCJ looked at a will with some less-than-clear provisions that gave the deceased's friend an unclear proprietary interest in her home.

26 January 2021 TAGS: Discussion

4 Steps to Start the Year Right

With 2020 finally behind us, it’s time to step forward into a new year that’s hopefully much less turbulent than the last one. But, there’s no need to do it alone. Below, we’ve outlined four steps legal professionals can take to kick off the year on a high note and carry it all the way through.

15 January 2021 TAGS: Company Updates

Connecting Queen's Elder Law Clinic and the Canada Will Registry

Last month we onboarded the Queen’s Elder Law Clinic onto the Canada Will Registry! Serving the Kingston community since 2010, the Queen's Elder Law Clinic offers free legal services to elders that may not have the resources to seek legal counsel.

30 November 2020 TAGS: Case Law

Case Brief - When can you replace an estate trustee?

In Viertelhausen v. Viertelhausen, 2020 ONSC 6744, the Ontario Superior Court considered an application to remove an estate trustee due to an alleged conflict of interest and personal animus.

27 November 2020 TAGS: PracticeConsiderations

What to Tell Your Client About a Passing of Accounts

Acting as a fiduciary can be particularly onerous for a lay person. As a lawyer whose client may be considering taking on the role (or is currently in the role) of an estate trustee, attorney for property or a trustee, it is of utmost importance to equip your clients with the knowledge...

26 November 2020 TAGS: Wills

Lessons to Learn From Unconventional Will Provisions

Creating a will is critical to ensuring a smooth transition upon your passing. However, this process can be greatly disrupted if it contains unconventional or difficult-to-follow provisions. To help you understand what’s realistic and what to avoid...

19 November 2020 TAGS: Will Registry

5 Common Misconceptions About the Canada Will Registry

I'm a Business Development Representative at NoticeConnect and every day I speak with lawyers about our Canada Will Registry.

30 October 2020 TAGS: Tech

Protecting Your Firm From Ransomware Attacks

You’ve probably heard of the term “ransomware”, but what is it? Ransomware is a form of cyber attack in which malicious outside actors take over a computer system and hold it hostage. They won't return your access or your data until you send them a payment.

26 October 2020 TAGS: Company Updates

Search the Canada Will Registry Within Estate-a-Base

We are excited to announce that Estate-a-Base users now have access to the Canada Will Registry! The Canada Will Registry integration with Estate-a-Base by DoProcess allows legal professionals to carry out effective due diligence by searching our database of 225,000+ wills.

23 October 2020 TAGS: Case Law

Case Brief - Testamentary Capacity and Dementia

In McAndrew Estate (Re), 2020 ABQB 614, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta considered the validity of three wills made by a woman diagnosed with dementia.

8 October 2020 TAGS: Estates

5 Things to Talk About When Managing Your Estate Plans

Managing estate plans can be intimidating. In fact, many people are so afraid of the thought of it that they fail to plan adequately. Or, it may seem that with so much to learn and do, you simply don’t know where to start.

28 September 2020 TAGS: Case Study

Case Study - Organizing your will vault with the Canada Will Registry

Wolfe, Smith, and Forster LLP (“WSF”) have been practicing law in the Fergus, Ontario area since 1931. The firm was already using NoticeConnect to advertise for creditors when they heard about how NoticeConnect’s Canada Will Registry can help with will vault management.

28 September 2020 TAGS: Case Law

Case Brief - The meaning of "residence"

In Poole v Dailey, 2020 SKQB 226, the Queen's Bench for Saskatchewan considered the case of a will that left a residential property to a couple's daughter, on condition that she occupy it as her residence.

25 September 2020 TAGS: PracticeConsiderations

Here's Why You Need to Draft Effective Power of Attorney(s)

Powers of attorney are one of the most important documents in your client’s estate plan, simply by virtue of the fact that they come into effect when your client is often at their most vulnerable – living, but lacking the ability to make decisions.

24 September 2020 TAGS: Estates

Tips for Choosing an Executor

Choosing an executor is like hiring an employee. You have to consider the candidate's qualifications, experience, and if they're the right fit. In this blog, I review some factors to think about when selecting the right person for the job.

27 August 2020 TAGS: Features

Value for Clients with Will Registration Certificates

This week we introduced Will Registration Certificates. When you register a client's will on the Canada Will Registry, you can now download a certificate to share with your client showing that you've taken this important step.

27 August 2020 TAGS: Case Law

Case Brief - Rebutting the presumption of revocation

Levitz v. Hillel Lodge Long Term Care Foundation, 2017 ONSC 6253 is a case about a missing will and what it takes to rebut the presumption of revocation.

21 August 2020 TAGS: PracticeConsiderations

E-Filing, Caselines, and Everything in Between

We know that COVID-19 protocols and procedures have had everyone thrown off course more times than any of us care to admit. Once we’ve had a chance to figure out and implement one practice direction, we are undoubtedly thrown a new one.

20 August 2020 TAGS: Tech

Why Updating Your Internet Browser Matters

From researching clients to interviewing new hires to checking the weather, so much of what we do online starts with opening a browser.

29 July 2020 TAGS: Case Law

Case Brief - The costs implications of a weak position, for counsel and client

In Eisenrieder Estate v Eisenrieder, 2020 ABQB 392, the Court of Queen's Bench considered the issue of costs, following a dispute over interpretation of a Will in which one party advanced a weak position.