This morning I met with a client whose father died two years ago but whose estate has not even been started. The client took his father's Will to a lawyer who doesn't practice Wills and Estates law - and told the client so - but the client wanted this lawyer to do the work because it was someone he knew personally. Why the lawyer agreed, I can't imagine.
The result is that two years later, the Will has not even been probated. The lawyer found a form that he sent to the client and asked him to fill in. The client didn't know how to fill it in properly and the lawyer was no help. Everything ground to a halt and there it stayed until today. There are four pieces of real estate, two of which generate rental income, still in the father's name. The estate is at least two tax returns behind schedule.
If your experience with an estate is anything like this, you should know that this isn't the way it's supposed to be. This is not at all how things go when you hire a lawyer with knowledge and expertise in estates. If that client had chosen a different lawyer, this all would have been over with and out of his hair a year ago or more. The lawyer should take control of the file, keep it moving and advise the client at every step of the transaction.
I always feel terrible for people when I hear stories like this. Don't put yourself in this position! Whether you need Will planning for yourself or probate of the Will of someone you cared about, hire someone with experience. If you don't know who to hire, ask your friends, family and co-workers for the name of an estate planning lawyer they have used. Don't hire someone who sets up companies or defends criminals or does divorces. Those are completely different law specialties that you may need at another time but you don't need for estate planning. If nobody you know can recommend someone, ask your banker or your accountant.
Tip: If you call a firm or lawyer you don't know, be smart about what questions you ask. Don't say "do you do Wills?" because even a lawyer who does only one Will a year will answer in the affirmative. Instead, ask "what percentage of your practice is Wills and Estates?" Look for someone who does a lot of work in this area of law.
I know there are some exceptions to this rule. I have met some general practitioner lawyers, particularly in smaller towns, who do several kinds of legal work and are also extremely good at Wills and Estates law. I've also met some who are terrible at it. I wish it were easier for the clients to know who to hire.
Hi Lynn, my sister and I own a cottage. Deed reads husband and wife as joint tenants and tenants in common with other husband and wife. My sister hasn't contributed to the upkeep or repairs for the property in over 14 years. She is now threatening that if we don't buy her out she will sell her half. The title is not clear as the mortgage on title was held by someone who passed away without a will and no heirs. It is my understanding this now has to go through Superior Court in Toronto to get cleared up. Can my sister sell her half without the title being clear? Approximately how long do you think it would take to go through the courts and the approximate cost for a lawyer?
ReplyDeleteWell, good luck to her in trying to sell half a house, especially when the title is so messed up she can't prove she owns anything. Tell this bully to take a hike.
DeleteThe length of time it will take to go through court will depend on several factors, including whether there is going to be a full trial or not. If you are proceeding through the probate courts, that would likely be faster and less expensive, but I don't know all the facts so I don't know if that's possible in this case.
Lynne
So my dad passed away in joint tenants a couple months ago. My grandma passed away just after. N now there is a couple of my antys on it.
ReplyDeleteI have lived there the last 25 years and about the same with my sister. My dad has lived there the last 50. Not one of my antes even live in the provence or have even stayed on the property in the last 30 years.
They moved other people in to my grandmas house.
But wont let me turn on the power to our house.
I really have no right to live here any more?
Is there anything i can do about this like put a lean on the property or land or even clam squatters rights?
The resin i ask is my sister just had a baby and my gf is pregnant. N from what u said we basically have to pack all our stuff n suck it up?
n the 100 combined years on it means nothing
thats the law lol... canada sucks lol
Canada didn't do this to you, my friend. Our property laws are actually pretty sensible and easy to work with. Blame it on the people who for some completely unknown reason put everyone and their dog on their title. There is no sane reason for all those people to be on the title. Now you're paying for someone else's unwillingness to even find out what the law is.
DeleteLynne