Challenges to Validity of Wills
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Vaudreuil v Madson, 2023 SKKB 19
The recent Saskatchewan King’s Bench decision in Vaudreuil v Madson is an example of a testamentary document in which a trial was required to determine its validity. This was because of contradictory evidence which had been adduced as to require findings of...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Kuffner v. Jacques, 2023 SKKB 14
The recent Saskatchewan King’s Bench decision in Kuffner v. Jacques offers guidance on when the merits of a will challenge can be decided in a summary fashion, as opposed to a full trial.Factual background: The factual background in Kuffner was as follows: The Will...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Nagy v. Graves, 2022 CarswellSask 590, 2022 SKKB 257
The recent Saskatchewan Queen’s Bench decision in Nagy v. Graves reminds us that a Court will often remove executors who are guilty of extreme delay in administering an Estate.Factual background: The factual background in Nagy was as follows: Nine siblings of the Nagy...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Bell v Bell, 2022 SKQB 198
The recent Saskatchewan Queen’s Bench decision in Bell v Bell, 2022 SKQB 198 is an example of a Will challenge which did not succeed in raising a genuine issue for trial. Bell reminds us that Courts will generally require firsthand evidence of incapacity or of...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Peters (Estate) (Re), 2022 SKQB 186
The recent Saskatchewan Queen’s Bench decision in Peters (Estate) (Re), 2022 SKQB 186 prohibits the practice of altering an affidavit without actually re-swearing it.Factual background: The background facts in Peters can be described as follows: Antonia Peters died on...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Martin v Martin, 2022 SKCA 79
The recent Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision in Martin v Martin, 2022 SKCA 79 offers a reminder of the litigation which can ensue when a person puts another family member on title, and a dispute later arises as to whether that person holds beneficial title, or,...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: McCabe v Kowalyshyn, 2022 SKCA 56
The recent Court of Appeal decision in McCabe v Kowalyshyn, 2022 SKCA 56, offers various lessons to Estate litigators. These include: The reality that court approvals of Estate land sales, under s. 50.5 of The Administration of Estates Act, SS 1998, c A-4.1, do not...
National Post article on poorly drafted wills
A recent article from the National Post underscores how important it is to ensure that your Will is up to date and that it is well-drafted. I do not personally draft wills, as I focus on estate litigation disputes. However, I have seen firsthand that a homemade will...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Nicklen Estate, 2021 SKQB 208
The recent Saskatchewan decision in Nicklen Estate offers a reminder of the importance of making changes to your will while you still can. If you draft “notes to self” but postpone actual changes to your will, it may be too late.Background A will was executed by the...
Saskatchewan Estate Litigation Update: Fraser v Mountstephen, 2021 SKQB 192
The recent case of Fraser v Mountstephen offers reminder that not every irregularity with a Will can justify subjecting that Will to litigation. Background Blair Fraser died without children. He named a friend, Lori Ann Mountstephen, as Executrix. He left his entire...