This week on Hull on Estates Jonathan Morse interviews Rodney Hull about his career as a lawyer. He discusses how he got started in estate litigation, how Hull and Hull was founded, how the practice of estate litigation has changed and the effect of electronic means of communicating on the practice of law. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates, Ian Hull and Suzana Popvic-Montag discuss the question of retainers. This topic comes from a seminar at the Law Society of Upper Canada where they had several practitioners in different areas come and talk about their retainers. The question of retainers is a broad question that affects all practices in a similar way. Specifically Ian and Suzana discuss the unique characteristics of the estate retainier and some of the things they use at their firm to help deliniate their jobFeel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates, Rick Bickhram and Sarah Fitzpatrick discuss Henson trusts (also called absolute discretionary trusts). They consider the use of such trusts to benefit disabled persons, and how best to protect the assets (typically an inheritance) as well as the right to collect government benefits and assistance." Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates, Diane Vieira and Bianca La Neve discuss the role of the Office of the Public Guardian Trustee (PGT) in passings of accounts. They talk about the role of this government body whose job it is to protect the interests of incapable persons, charities and absentees. They discuss the things to keep in mind when serving the PGT and common issues seen on passings of accounts. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates, Megan Connolly and Paul Trudelle discuss administration bonds; what they are, when they are required, why they are required and dispensing with the administration bond in certain cases. In Particular they refer to the Henderson decision, a recent decision out of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that deals with the issue of dispensing with an administration bond and what is required. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates, Jonathan Morse and Sarah Fitzpatrick present and mock client situation in which they discuss the estate needs and will needs for someone with a dependant. They describe the process of finding new clients and go on to describe the process of fulfilling these needs for the client. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates Diane Vieira and Bianca La Neve discuss some issues they've been encountering concerning court proceeding involving the Substitute Decisions Act and the Health Care Consent Act.They talk about the need for a capacity assessment and who you go to for a capacity assessment, the issue of notice periods and the right of an incapable person in proceedings under the Substitute Decisions Act. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates Ian Hull and Suzana Popovic-Montag discuss the legal and substantive role of the executor at the time of death. They focus on the question of who has right and control over the body and refer to the 2001 decision of Sopinka vs. Sopinka. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates Diane Vieira and Natalia Angelini discuss powers of attorney for personal care. They refer to a paper by Mark Handelman on the subject. They point out that even though powers of attorney often garners less attention and is the subject of less disputes that it should still be carefully thought out. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.

This week on Hull on Estates Rick Bickhram and Paul Trudelle discuss the amendments to the rules of civil procedure that have be set out by the government and come into effect on January 1, 2010. The purpose of these amendments is to provide the civil justice system with a means of being more affordable and accessible. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a comment on the Hull on Estates blog.