Entries by Geoff Rabideau

Probate and Estate Administration Tax

When acting as a prospective estate trustee in Ontario, it is often necessary to apply to the court for a certificate of appointment of estate trustee. Although it is commonly referred to as “probate”, the certificate of appointment is essentially a validation of a will or, in a scenario where no will exists, an authorization […]

Common Law vs. Marriage

Common Law and Marriage are often confused when it comes to the division of property and other rights and obligations upon separation. In order to know what you’re entitled to, it’s important to understand the distinction between these two terms so you can create the best plan for your future. What may be confusing to […]

Joining Assets with Children

We recently came across an individual asking whether he could avoid the cost of preparing a Will by simply ‘joining’ all his assets with his children. Perhaps you may also have someone give you such an idea in order to skip the preparation of a Will because it’s “easier and cheaper to just join your […]

The Process of Getting a Separation Agreement Done

What follows below will be a general overview of the process for completing a separation agreement.  It begins by contacting our office and concludes with the completed separation agreement that is provided to the client. Please note that this is not a precise account of how the process works, but merely a general guideline.  Each […]

Separation Agreements: An Overview

What is a separation agreement? Separation agreements are contracts between two persons in a romantic relationship regarding their familial rights and obligations towards each other.  These types of agreements allow people to negotiate issues such as how children will be taken care of, what kind of support will be paid between the spouses, and how […]