Overview of the Course
This course deals with the law of wills and estates, with some consideration of the law respecting substitute decision-making. It is expected that students will leave the course with the following skills and abilities:
- Construct simple estate plans including the operation of Will-substitutes and the intestacy rules.
- Advise on the validity of Continuing Powers of Attorney and issues respecting substitute decision-making.
- Advise on the validity of Wills, including who can make a Will and in what circumstances a Will, or part of a Will, is inoperative.
- Advise on the interpretation of testamentary instruments.
- Understand how and when probate is required, the nature of estate litigation, and the intersection of the Rules of Civil Procedure and the principal succession law statutes.
- Understand the nature of the role of the Estate Trustee and the solicitor advising the Estate Trustee.
- Advise interested parties including the Estate Trustee, potential heirs, creditors, and others on probate and aspects of estate administration.
- Advise on dependant’s relief claims and spousal entitlements.
- Understand the key professional competencies and responsibilities for practice in this area.
Evaluation: 100% Open-book Final Examination
Materials: Oosterhoff on Wills, 9th Edition (Thomson Reuters, 2021)
Classes: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. & Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (both in KINE 101)
TOPICS, LECTURE SCHEDULE, & READING LIST
Page numbers refer to Oosterhoff on Wills, 9th Edition
September 6, 2022
I. Concepts
No reading
Overview & Understanding the Model of Law as a Whole
Professional Practice and Careers
September 8, 2022
II. Pre-Mortem: Substitute Decision-Making
Introduction: 1019-1029
Capacity: 1030-1047
Information on Capacity and Capacity Assessment (MAG)
Vanier v. Vanier, 2017 ONCA 561 (Ont. C.A.)
September 13, 2022
Appointment of Attorneys and Guardians: 1047-1057
Powers of Attorney Q&As – Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
Powers and Obligations of Attorneys and Guardians: 1058-1082
September 15, 2022
III. Intestate Succession
Introduction and Devolution of Property: 71-72
Distribution on Intestacy: 73-102
Re Crane Estate, 2016 ONSC 291 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Partial Intestacy: 102-103
IV. Wills and Will-Substitutes
Nature of a Will: 113-117, 325-327
Gifts: 173-174
Jansen v. Niels Estate, 2017 ONCA 312 (Ont. C.A.)
Morreale v. Romanino, 2017 ONCA 359 (Ont. C.A.)
Lecture Notes 3 – Intestate Succession; Will-Substitutes (I)
September 20, 2022
Deeds and Inter Vivos Trusts: 174-176
Joint Ownership: 176-179 [you may find it of assistance to read Pecore v Pecore, 2007 SCC 17 (S.C.C.)]
Life Insurance: 180-183
Moore v. Sweet, 2018 SCC 52 (S.C.C.)
Pensions and Beneficiary Designations: 184-198
Lecture Notes 4 – Will-Substitutes (II)
September 22, 2022
Will Substitutes and Probate Fees: 200-204
Estate Administration Tax Act Regulation 310/14 – Information Required
Guide to the New Estate Information Return
V. Contracts, Obligations, Mutual Wills
Promises to Make a Will: 122-128
Promises and Proprietary Estoppel: 132-134
Mutual Wills: 135-145
Nelson v. Trottier, 2019 ONSC 1657 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Lecture Notes 5 – Contracts, Obligations, and Mutual Wills
September 27, 2022
No class.
September 29, 2022
VI. Will-Making
Delegation of Testamentary Power: 155-168
Public Policy: Spence v. BMO Trust Company, 2016 ONCA 196 (Ont. C.A.)
Age Requirement: 206-207
Onus Probandi: 232-235
Suspicious Circumstances: 235-242
Lecture Notes 6 – Will-Making (I)
October 4, 2022
Knowledge and Approval: 208-211
Garwood v. Garwood, 2017 MBCA 67 (Manitoba C.A.)
Mental Capacity: 211-232, 247-251
Undue Influence and Fraud: 251-160
Pascu v. Benke, 2005 CanLII 1086 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
Lecture Notes 7 – Will-Making (II)
October 6, 2022
VII. Formal Validity of Wills
Introduction to Formal Validity: 299
Succession Law Reform Act, s.21.1
Attested Wills: 299-323
Holograph Wills: 324
Judicial Validation: 337-339
Incorporation By Reference: 334-336
VIII. Revocation of Wills
Introduction: 359-360
By Operation of Law: 360-364
By Act of Testator: 382-393
Hayduk v. Gudz, 2022 ONSC 2249 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Conditional Revocation: 397-403
Revival of Revoked Wills: 403-405
Lecture Notes 8 – Formalities and Revocation of Wills
October 11, 2022
IX. Proof of Death and Lost Wills
Proof of Death: 409-420, 422-425
Proof of Lost Wills: 427-430
X. Capacity of Beneficiaries
Illegitimacy: 441-448
Adoption: 451-452
Homicide: 454-463
The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company v. Rogers, 2021 ONSC 1747 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Witnesses: 470-476
Lecture Notes 9 – Proof of Death and Lost Wills; Capacity of Beneficiaries to Take Under a Will
October 13, 2022
XI. Rectification of Wills
Rectification: 263-269, 270-278, 279-281
McLauglin v. McLaughlin, 2016 ONCA 899 (Ont. C.A.)
Rondel v. Robinson Estate, 2011 ONCA 493 (Ont. C.A.)
XII. Interpretation of Wills
Jurisdiction and Judicial Function: 479-482
Lecture Notes 9 – Rectification; Interpretation (I)
October 18, 2022
General Principles and Rules of Construction: 483-506
Particular Expressions: 506-517
Partial Intestacies: 517-520
Evidence: 521-537
Drafting Errors: 539-552
Daradick v. McKeand Estate, 2012 ONSC 5622 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Lecture Notes 10 – Interpretation (II)
October 20, 2022
XIII. Void Conditions
Consequences of Void Conditions: 762-764
Conditions Contrary to Public Policy: 765-795
Conditions Impossible of Performance: 795-799
Uncertain Conditions: 800-805
Barsoski Estate v. Wesley, 2022 ONCA 399 (C.A.)
Lecture Notes 11 – Void Conditions
October 25, 2022
XIV. Gifts
Subject-Matter and Types of Testamentary Gifts: 555-558, 559-570, 572-573
Abatement: 565-579
Ademption: 584-585
Date From Which Will Speaks: 588-594
Disclaimer: 630-631
XV. Lapse and Survivorship
Introduction: 643
Disposition of Lapsed Gifts: 643-647
Anti-Lapse Legislation: 648-656
Exceptions to Lapse: 657-663
Substitutionary Gifts: 666-668, 672-675
Lecture Notes 12 – Ademption and Abatement; Lapse
October 27, 2022
No Class
November 1, 2022
XVI. Class Gifts
Nature and Effect of a Class Gift: 685-686
Identifying Class Gifts: 686-696
Composition of the Class: 697-700
The Class Closing Rules: 701-710
XVII. Probate and Administration
Introduction and Role of the Courts: 27-33
Grants of Probate: 33-41
Lecture Notes 13 – Class Gifts; Administration (I)
November 3, 2022
No Class
November 8, 2022 & November 10, 2022
No classes. Fall Term reading week.
November 15, 2022
Compensation & Passing of Accounts: 54-57
Duties: 58-60
Estates Procedures Manual (MAG, 2021)
November 17, 2022
XVIII. Matrimonial Rights
The Impact of the Family Law Act on Estate Administration: 869-906
Form – Election of Surviving Spouse, per RRO 1990, Reg 368
Yamada v. Zolad, 2007 CanLII 4328 (Ont Sup Ct)
Lecture Notes 14 – The Equalization Election of a Surviving Married Spouse
November 22, 2022
XIX. Support of Dependents
Introduction to Dependant’s Relief: 923-939
Practice and Procedure: 940-945
Satisfaction of Support Obligations: 945-967
Property Subject of an Order: 967-980
XX. Solicitor’s Liability
Solicitors’ Duty in Taking Instructions for a Will: 989-995
Solicitors’ Duty of Care Towards Beneficiaries: 996-1014
Lecture Notes 15 – Dependant’s Support; Neglience Claims Against the Drafting Solicitor
November 24, 2022
Review & Past Exams
Note: The last two classes are set aside in case of illness or if we do not keep to the schedule. If we finish early, so much the better – more time to study.