Hull on Estates

During Episode #43 of Hull on Estates, Craig and Bianca gave an overview of a previous podcast aired on December 12, 2006. They furthered this discussion on managing estate litigation matters, and considered multiple proceedings (ex. dependent support claims), how issues are set out in Orders for Directions, and evidence requirements, including documentary discovery.

During Hull on Estates Episode #42, Justin and Megan discussed the case of Godwin c. Bolcso [1993] O.P.J. No. 297 and Section 32 of the Family Law Act. This case concerns the application by a 58-year-old mother for support from four adult children. The issues covered included the definitions of "reasonable care" and "support", and insight into when support will be ordered for parents.

During Episode #41, Ian and Suzana reviewed the Waters' Law of Trusts in Canada (3rd Edition) and discussed the extensive and helpful coverage of estate law topics offered by the text.

During Hull on Estates Episode #40, Sean and Paul discussed the importance of wills, naming a Power of Attorney and other elements of succession planning that should be considered in the New Year.

During Hull on Estates Episode 39, Jason Allan and David Smith discussed the considerations that apply when beneficiaries seek to remove the trustee(s) of an estate. They discuss a factual situation involving a trustee who engages in questionable conduct and the various recourses available in an application for the trustee's removal.

During Hull on Estates Podcast #38, we discussed provisions that may be included in Orders Giving Directions.

During Hull on Estates Episode 37 we discussed: - limitation periods and equalization payments in the context of estate litigation; - the case of Webster v. Webster Estate, including: - the facts of the case; - the marriage contract; - the Application to extend the time for the limitation period; - Section 2(8) of the Family Law Act; and - the Courts decision in this matter.

During Hull on Estates Episode 36, we discussed: - mandatory mediation; - the types of matters that have mandatory mediation; - how mediation works in general; - what the general timelines are for proceeding to mediation; and - considerations for selecting a mediator.

During Hull on Estates Episode 35 we discussed the following: - competing beneficiaries who join forces to challenge a Will when they do not have identical interests; - people that need to be served in a Will Challenge; - how to decide if you need your own lawyer or if you should join forces with the same solicitor; - how to deal with the costs of the Will Challenge when dealing with several lawye...

During Hull on Estates Episode 34, we discussed Security for Costs Motions in the context of Estate Litigation inlcuding the cases of Re Bisyk (1979), 23 O.R. (2d), 600, Moses Estate, Re (2001), 38 E.T.R. (2d) 231 (Manitoba Master) and Boutzios Estate, Re (2004), 5 E.T.R. (3d) 51 (Ont. S.C.J.) and the changing landscape of the law in respect of Security for Costs Motions.

During Hull on Estates Episode 33, we highlighted Hull & Hull LLP's new website including outlining the resources on the website such as Blogs, Podcasts, Video Streaming, The Probator, News and Events, Links and Hull Estate Mediation.

During Hull on Estates Episode 32, we discussed the book by Jordan Atin, Barry Fish and Les Kotzer titled "The Family War Winning the Inheritance Battle" including how to avoid these fights, how to deal with them when you are in them and how to get out of them as quickly and in the best way possible.

During Hull on Estates Episode 31, we discussed contingency fees in the context of estate ligitation including the fact that Ontario is now allowed to have contingency fee agreements, what a contingecy fee is, the risk involved in taking a contingecy fee, how disbursements are handled in a contingency fee agreement, fees and the percentage that is taken and what provisions should be included in a...

During Hull on Estates Episode 30, we discussed security for costs motions including the concepts involved in security for costs motions and when the Courts will award security for costs motions. We also discussed Rule 57 of the Rules of Civil Procedure in respect to costs and Rule 56 of the Rules of Civil Procedure in respect of security for costs motions.

During Hull on Estates Podcast #29, Ian Hull and Jordan Atin, Senior Associate Counsel at Hull and Hull LLP, spoke with Kate Morgan, President of Podwise Social Media Inc. to discuss the concepts of Social Media and how they are relevant to the growth and success of law firms and small businesses.

During Hull on Estates Episode 28, we discussed solicitor's negligence and the type of claims that can arise in Estate Litigation, prevention of claims and the importance of making an early report of a claim to LawPRO.

During Hull on Estates Episode #27, we continued our discussion on the compensation of an estate trustee, including the pre-taking of compensation and the exclusion in Section 61 of the Trustee Act regarding fixing compensation in the instrument creating the trust.

During Hull on Estates Episode #26, we discussed the compensation of an estate trustee.

During episode #25 of Hull on Estates, we discussed the expansion of social media and its effect on business development. We also discussed the principal concepts found in Chris Anderson's book, www.thelongtail.com. We have blogged extensively about this innovative book, so if you would like more information, please visit our blogpage at www.hullandhull.com/podcast.

In Episode #24, we discussed the issue of disclosure of information by trustees to beneficiaries. We referred to the cases of O'Rourke v. Derbyshire, [1920] A.C. 581 (H.L.); Re Ballard Estate (1994), 20 O.R. (3d) 350 (O.C.G.D.); Fox v. Fox Estate (1996), 10 E.T.R. (2d) 229 (Ont. C.A.); and an article by David Steele, "Beneficiary's Right to Know", 4th Annual Estates and Trusts Forum, LSUC.

During Hull on Estates podcast #23, we discussed the tips for and the pitfalls of bringing motions for summary judgement in estate litigation.

During Episode #22 of Hull on Estates, we discussed summary judgment in general and in the context of estate litigation. More specifically, we looked at the cases of Straus v. Bainbridge (1999), 38 E.T.R. (2d) 110 (Ont. Gen. Div.); affirmed 38 E.T.R. (2d) 119 (Ont. C.A.), Ostreich v. Brunnhuber (2001), 38 E.T.R. (2d) 82, Knox v. Trudeau (2001), 38 E.T.R. (2d) 67 and the Ettorre Estate, Re (2004),...

During Hull on Estates Episode #21, we discussed the conditions which can lead to a Will challenge and the steps of the Estate litigation process.

During Hull on Estates Episode 20, we discussed costs awards and estate litigation. We also analyzed the case of Ali v. Fruci, [2006] O.J. No. 1093 (S.C.J.); [2006] O.J. No. 1425 (S.C.J.) and the case of Andersen v. St. Jude Medical, Inc. [2006] O.J. No. 508 (Div. Ct.).

During Hull on Estates Episode 19, we reviewed three themes which have an impact on the decision of costs in the estate: 1) An appropriate level of investigation 2) Protection of sanctity of the process 3) Testator conduct Capacity litigation and the passing of accounts were also reviewed and the case of Ali v. Fruci ([2006] O.J. No. 1093) was introduced.