As an Estate Trustee, you might find yourself in a difficult situation in which a family member of the deceased is unreasonably refusing to vacate the Estate house. Often these occupants are sons or daughters of the deceased who have been living rent free in the Deceased’s house for 30,…
Kelly Santini is pleased to welcome the commercial and construction litigation team of John Melia and Kara Takagi to the firm. A leading commercial and construction lawyer, John Melia brings over 20 years of experience representing Canadian and international clients in the construction industry. His practice also includes advising on…
When a person passes away, their estate is usually administered by an executor or estate trustee. The duties of an estate trustee are numerous and varied, but can broadly be divided into two categories: administering the estate and distributing the assets. Another main duty of the trustee is to plan…
For over two years, the pandemic has greatly impacted our way of life and has highlighted our modern society’s need for flexibility. The practice of law has been of no exception. Bill 245 – Accelerating Access to Justice Act, 2021, S.O, 2021, c.4 received royal assent on April 19, 2021,…
Kelly Santini is honoured to be presenting this year’s Ottawa Arts Council Emerging Artist Award. The award recognizes and encourages the achievements of Ottawa artists who are in the early stages of their career in the arts and are working towards becoming recognized professional artists, while engaging with the community….
The COVID-19 Pandemic becomes a catalyst to the modernization of litigation in Ontario beginning with changes to the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure effective January 1, 2021 With the temporary closures of in-person courts and the sudden influx of individuals working from home, the Ontario Courts were forced to adopt…
Just in time for Halloween. A zombie deed is a document which is signed during a property owner’s lifetime but registered on title after the owner dies. In modern legal terminology, this should be referred to by the less catchy name of “zombie acknowledgment and direction”. In a relatively recent…
An estate trustee is entitled to compensation for his/her endeavours in the administration of an estate. However, the quantum of compensation can result in litigation if the beneficiaries perceive the proposed amounts to be unreasonable. A recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court provides guidance to estate trustees claiming compensation…
