IS THERE SUPPORT AFTER DEATH? - What Did the Court of Appeal Do in Cummings v. Cummings? - Part VI
In Cummings v. Cummings, the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision made by the application judge at first instance.
In coming to this conclusion, the Court of Appeal was strongly influenced by the concepts set out in the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Tataryn v. Tataryn Estate ([1994] 2 S.C.R. 807 (S.C.C.)).
The decision in the Tataryn case held that moral considerations were applicable to a determination as to the amount of a dependant's support award in the context of the British Columbia statute (The Wills Variation Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 435).
Until the Cummings v. Cummings decision, the approach to quantifying dependant's relief claims in Ontario was to essentially ignore the Tataryn moral considerations approach. This was as a result of the fact that the Tataryn decision was an appeal from the British Columbia Court of Appeal and was in respect to section 2(1) of the Wills Variation Act, which included substantially different wording than that of the SLRA. The Wills Variation Act assists dependants where there is a will which does not "in the Court's opinion, make adequate provision for the proper maintenance and support of the testator's wife, husband or children".
It is this language that has allowed the British Columbia Courts to approach the whole question of quantifying dependant's relief on a very different basis and on a moral conviction approach. The language in the Wills Variation Act is broadly drafted and essentially allows the Court to do what it thinks is adequate, just and equitable in the circumstances.
With the Cummings v. Cummings decision essentially embracing the decision of Tataryn, a very different approach must be considered in respect of quantifying dependant's relief claims in Ontario.
We hope this case gives you an idea of the application of the basics legal definitions and terms.
All the best, Suzana and Ian. --------
