Advertising for creditors is an important step to protect an estate trustee from liability for the debts of the deceased. Publishing a notice to creditors is appropriate for most estates. And if a client does not wish to advertise, it is advisable to get a signed direction letter confirming this.

The general rule for probating a will is that you must submit the original will to the court. You simply cannot send a photocopy of the will to the court as if it were an original.

There are certain requirements that must be met in order for a will to be valid. Generally, all Canadian provinces and territories have the same or similar formal requirements.

In the majority of will challenges, testamentary capacity is often the main issue of the case. Will drafting lawyers are strongly encouraged to determine their client’s mental capacity for the purposes of signing a Will.

Every year, the Ontario Bar Association makes it their mission to educate Canadians on the importance of having a will by hosting free events across Ontario.