Listen to The Decision of Justice Brown

This week on Hull on Estates, Ian Hull and Suzana Popovic-Montag discuss the recent decision of Re Pearsall .

In this decision, Justice Brown offers clarification on the issue of where applications involving estates may be commenced.

Paul Trudelle has  previously written a post about the decision.

If you have any comments, send us an email at hull.lawyers@gmail.com or leave a comment on our blog.

According to the October 8, 2008 endorsement of Mr. Justice Brown (court file no. 01-2725-08, no link available yet), where a testator makes 2 wills, each covering different assets, and each naming different executors, a local estates registrar can issue separate Certificates of Appointment of Estate Trustees to different executors limited to the assets referred to in each Will.

The endorsement closes with 2 "reminders" to applicants in multiple wills situations (I won't paraphrase):...

First "reminder":

 "If multiple wills exist and the executors plan to obtain probate for each, in addition to including an affidavit attesting to non-revocation as I described above, the applicants should ensure that the draft limited assets certificates of appointment which they submit each clearly identify the will for which probate is sought - e.g. the General Will dated X, or the Secondary Will dated Y, or the "will dated Z styled as the Limited Assets Will".  With each will clearly identified on the face of each certificate, the risk of any confusion arising from the issuance of separate certificates for each will should be kept to a minimum."

Second "reminder":

"If the application for a certificate involves a Granovsky-type situation where probate is sought only for one of the wills, it is important that the application materials contain a brief affidavit attesting that the non-probated will does not contain any provision revoking the will for which probate is being sought.  Such evidence will permit the Estates Office to be satisfied that the will for which probate is sought remains in force and governs the disposition of the assets enumerated in it: Re Kerzner Estate, 2008 CanLII 42020 (ON S.C.)."

I hope this helps.

Chris Graham