Finally, fifteen years after the death of “The Godfather of Soul”, James Brown, his estate has been settled. As with other celebrities such as Aretha Franklin and Prince, who died without a coherent estate plan or a will, expensive and time-consuming litigation has been a hall-mark of the James Brown …
The ‘Slayer Rule’ and Administration of a Deceased’s Estate
The concept of murder for profit is a consistent theme in real life and fictional pop culture. But can someone who has caused another person’s death also take a benefit from that person’s estate? According to the Slayer Rule, the answer in most instances is no, but there is a …
Is a Grant of Probate Necessary?
In Alberta, a Grant of Probate is the Surrogate Court’s certification that the Will submitted by the Executor meets the formal requirements of a Will as set out in the Wills and Succession Act and is the last Will executed by the deceased. The Grant of Probate gives the Executor …