Articles 2021

The recent case of Bradford Estate v. Kingdon, 2022 ON SC 6204 should be of great interest to elder law practitioners as it interprets the Family Law Act in such a way that could create a great inequity for clients in very specific circumstances. Specifically, this case impacts clients who are going through what the media would term “grey divorce”, meaning they are separating from their spouse as an older adult.

This article reviews a recent BC Supreme Court case that revisited the principles to be considered when the court determines whether or not to order a capacity assessment in a guardianship proceeding; further, the article provides guidance for requesting and/or conducting effective capacity assessments.

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) is shifting. This article looks at upcoming amendments to the 2016 federal legislation. The author explains aspects of advance consent introduced in Bill C-7 which provides new perspective on who can and should be able to consent to MAID, as well as the timing and the level of consent required by those seeking medical assistance in dying.

Commentary on the Ontario Government's recent legislation allowing designated hospital staff to move patients to a long-term care facility without consent of the patient. In the authors' view, the legislation is problematic on several fronts.

A strategy for how elder parents can manage joint bank accounts from the perspective of a professional executor.

Sometimes an executor has to administer an estate asset when the original Will is not available. Here's a tip.

In October 2021, The Law Commission of Ontario released the first part of its report on how professionals and organizations can better serve clients regarding end-of-life care. The list here summarizes the recommendations relevant to health and estate lawyers.

The Trusted Contact Person reforms by Securities, Life Insurance and Banking regulators are designed to overcome privacy barriers which limited proactive steps by advisors and dealers to protect investors in specified circumstances. Although the progress is uneven, policies are moving in the right direction.

Further regulation is required to protect vulnerable homeowners from door-to-door sales practices. Some homeowners rent equipment and later discover a lien was registered against their property. The cost of removing that lien to "buy out" the contract is often a shock to those homeowners.