Family

  • October 24, 2025

    The ‘bundle of sticks’: Legal vs. beneficial ownership in estate planning

    As every estate lawyer worth their salt knows, the amount of careful analysis and due diligence that good, individualized estate planning requires cannot be overstated. Importantly, this process involves determining all the assets a testator has an interest in, how such interest is held, and finally how they would like to dispose of or pass on such interest(s) in their estate planning documents.

  • October 23, 2025

    Ty Bradford joins Clark Wilson as employment, family law associate

    Ty Bradford has joined Clark Wilson LLP as an associate after completing his articles with the firm. He practises in both the employment and labour law and family law groups.

  • October 23, 2025

    The case for in-person appearances

    I am no fan of in-person discoveries or mediation, purely from a selfish perspective of my time. Virtual discovery and mediation allow us to be more efficient with our time and our clients’ money. While I am not advocating for a return to all discoveries and mediations being in person, there is no doubt that something is missing.

  • October 23, 2025

    Navigating the jurisdictional, legal complexities of B.C. cross-border estate disputes

    In an increasingly global society, it is no longer uncommon for an individual to pass away owning property or financial assets or maintaining family ties across multiple countries. When a person’s estate spans multiple jurisdictions, the administration and distribution process quickly becomes fraught with complexity.

  • October 22, 2025

    Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan to host Access to Justice Week 2025

    Three provinces are holding the 10th annual National Access to Justice Week later this month. Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are listed as hosing the event, which runs this year from Oct. 27 to 31 and is being quarterbacked by the Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG).

  • October 22, 2025

    Crossing the line: How Ontario courts decide if a will, power of attorney was forced

    Every family has its dynamics — caring children, dominant personalities, financial dependence, and sometimes subtle power imbalances. When an elderly parent signs a will or power of attorney in such an environment, questions often arise: was this truly their decision or was their hand guided by someone else?

  • October 22, 2025

    Quebec’s divisive constitutional bill draws praise from proponents and scorn from critics

    The Quebec government has tabled an extremely broad and contentious bill that would enshrine a provincial constitution and introduce sweeping legislative changes. Constitutional law experts say the legislation would dramatically change the province’s legal landscape and curb countervailing oversight on multiple fronts.

  • October 21, 2025

    CRA call centres often fail to deliver accurate, timely help, says auditor general

    The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) call centres, which are supposed to help individuals and businesses with their tax queries, frequently dispense inaccurate and/or incomplete information and make Canadians wait unacceptably long times to get it, according to the latest review by the auditor general of Canada.

  • October 21, 2025

    B.C. proposes new legislation for 27-week medical leave for workers

    British Columbia has proposed an amendment to the Employment Standards Act that will allow workers with serious illness or injury to take more time off for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment and recovery.

  • October 21, 2025

    Parliamentary privilege, Indigenous sentencing, spoliation among highlights of SCC’s fall session

    The Supreme Court of Canada’s busy and diverse fall session includes weighty constitutional, criminal and Aboriginal law appeals that have attracted the participation of dozens of interveners. By the time the top court’s fall session ends on Dec. 12, 2025, the court will have heard some 20 cases, split between civil and criminal appeals.