In the important Superior Court of Justice decision in Officer v. The Estate of Charles Herbert Officer, Justice Faieta was called upon to settle the competing claims of the family of the late Mr. Charles Officer, who died at the young age of 48 without a Will. He was survived by his three year old […]
Read MoreOCCUPATION RENT IN ESTATES
Occupation rent is the legal term given to the compensation that is owed by someone who lives in a property without authority. This was canvassed by Justice Karakatsanis in the 2004 decision of Dagarsho Holdings Limited v. Bluestone. The judge held that occupation rent is an equitable remedy, in other words, it is a fairness […]
Read MoreWHAT CAN YOUR ATTORNEY or GUARDIAN OF PROPERTY DO or NOT DO SEVERING A JOINT TENANCY
The 2024 British Columbia trial decision in the Markland Estate v. Benz, by Justice Lamb highlights many legal principles that Will and Estates Lawyers have talked about in our blogs. Presumption of resulting trust, joint tenancy, severing a joint tenancy and a gift with a right of survivorship. Enter any of these terms in the […]
Read MoreREMOVING AN EXECUTOR IS HARD
The Court has Options Short of Removal In the September 2024 decision in Deziel v. Deziel, the freshly appointed Justice Barbara McFarlane touched upon a number of interesting points that apply to estate litigation and the administration of an estate. Estate Litigation Lawyers and simply Estate Lawyers need to keep these concepts in mind. We […]
Read MoreRRSP on Death
RRSPs and RIFs are a potential nightmare for Will and Estate Lawyers. Wills and probate lawyers keep an eye on Registered Retirement Savings Plans which must be converted into Registered Income Fund by the end of the year in which the owner turns 71. They offer many opportunities and pitfalls for their owners and wills […]
Read MoreWHAT HAPPENS TO MY BODY AFTER I DIE and IF THERE IS NO WILL WHO GETS APPOINTED ESTATE TRUSTEE
Sometimes in estate litigation, estate lawyers or estate litigation lawyers have to deal with the question of what happens to ones remains. Most people would assume that what they have told their family would be observed. But what happens if there is a fight amongst family members. The general rule is that the executor named […]
Read MorePayment of Probate Tax – The Estate Administration Tax
When one is required to make an application for probate, formally known as seeking a Certificate of Appointment as an Estate Trustee, the provincial government looks for its pound of flesh. Under The Estate Administration Tax Act, the province levies a tax of 1.5% of the value of the estate in excess of $50,000. With […]
Read MoreCapital Gains – A History ( UPDATED 2025 )
Most of our clients, used by the Will and Estate Lawyers, or Wills and Probate Lawyers at Dale Streiman Law LLP are aware that capital gains as opposed to straight income is treated differently under The Income Tax Act. They are generally treated more favourably. Some capital gains are completely free of any tax such […]
Read MoreGRE and CHARITABLE DONATIONS
Wills and Power of Attorney lawyers keep in mind that there are various benefits to making charitable donations within one’s Will, but those benefits are maximized if the estate is a GRE . An estate can claim a donation tax credit in the year of the donation. Further, if the estate is a GRE, the […]
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