The 2023 Osgoode Intensive Program in Wills & Estates

Available online anytime. Access is exclusive to registrants in the Intensive Program in Wills and Estates bundle.

Estate Planning, Review and Execution: Key Concepts and Practice Essentials – led by Jordan M. Atin, Hull & Hull LLP: There are clear steps and questions that every legal professional who is retained to draft a will must ask. You’ll walk through key stages – from the initial client interview, to quoting fees to executing the will, to storage and retention – and learn best practices and proven practice management techniques.

Drafting the Retainer and Will: Tips for Protecting Your Client, the Will and You! – led by Corina S. Weigl, Fasken: Errors when drafting retainer letters and wills, are the most common areas of negligence claims in the wills and estates practice area. Most, however, can be avoided. Referencing sample will clauses, checklists and roadmaps, this webinar will teach you techniques to avoid common drafting errors.

Estate Litigation for the Non-Litigator – led by Ian Hull, Hull & Hull LLP: While you may not practice in litigation, the most astute wills and estates practitioners have a solid grasp of the basic steps involved in the estate litigation and mediation process. Referencing real-life templates and sample documents, this webinar will guide you through these processes and provide practical tips that every wills and estates practitioner should be familiar with.

Chair

Amanda Stacey
Miller Thomson LLP

An in-depth and interactive learning program, you will have the opportunity to explore complex estate planning issues while updating and reinforcing your core knowledge and skills.

You will learn:

• Initial considerations in estate planning
• Key issues in taxation during estate planning
• Overview of will drafting, executing and reporting
• Fundamentals of estate administration

Chairs

Robert Kepes
Morris Kepes Winters LLP Tax Lawyers

Ray Rubin
Davies Ward, Phillips, Vineberg LLP

Robert Santia
Davies Ward, Phillips, Vineberg LLP

In this two-evening program, an expert faculty will help unpack critical – and often complex – tax issues in the area of wills and estates.

You will learn:

• Fundamentals of steps in an estate freeze to minimize tax on death
• Dealing with double taxation
• Taxation on death
• Terminal returns
• The graduated rate estate – pits and traps

Chair

Marni Pernica
Aird & Berlis LLP

When a client comes into your office requesting a will, it is critical that you are prepared to competently draft based on varying – and sometimes complicated – scenarios. This one day learn-by-doing program includes sample fact scenarios, lectures and small group breakout sessions. Personalized feedback will provide you with ample opportunity to develop and refine your drafting skills.

You will learn:

• How to avoid common drafting errors
• The basic administrative and preamble clauses that should be included in a will, and how to revise them given different fact situations
• The components of a simple will, and the situations in which it is appropriate to use
• How to incorporate clauses to a situation where a family cottage or a second marriage may be involved
• When to use multiple wills, and how to effectively draft them

You must be prepared to participate in an introductory webinar and complete a pre-program drafting assignment which will be reviewed by an experienced faculty member and discussed in small groups at the program.

Because of the hands-on, interactive nature of this program, this workshop requires live attendance and participation

Chair

Nimali D. Gamage
Goddard Gamage LLP

Our faculty of experienced lawyers and medical experts will provide you with a unique combination of insight from both legal and medical perspectives. Over one evening, you will learn practical takeaway points and receive checklists that can be implemented immediately in your practice. You will come away from this program more confident in your ability to handle difficult issues, such as:

• What are the red flags?
• Understanding your obligations to ask probing questions
• Assessing whether your client has capacity to give instructions
• When should you refuse to take the retainer?
• Understanding the Health Care Consent Act: Informed Consent and advance care planning

Chairs

Ian Hull and Suzana Popovic-Montag
Hull & Hull LLP

Not to be underestimated, powers of attorney can open a host of issues, including complex guardianship matters. An expert faculty of practitioners will lead an interactive discussion on what you need to know, addressing both contentious and non-contentious matters, such as:

• Understanding key documentation in incapacity planning
• What are your planning options?
• Basic issues in guardianship
• Role and removal of attorneys and guardians
• Practice points on dealing with tricky scenarios involving the Power of Attorney

Chair

Kimberly A. Whaley
WEL Partners

You need to understand the idiosyncrasies and common errors when passing accounts in order to have a successful wills and estates practice. In one intensive evening, you will learn the latest case law updates and will benefit from hands-on exercises where you will review sample estate accounts.

You will learn:

• The basics of passing of accounts
• Overview of compensation
• The Office of the Children’s Lawyer and the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee in reviewing accounts: their role, review process and common objections
• Reviewing accounts: What lawyers need to look for