Author Archives: Deborah de Bakker

Michael consulted us recently after his father’s death. Michael was an only child, and his parents divorced when Michael was still quite young. Michael was his father’s closest relative and he thought he would inherit his father’s estate, which consisted of an RRSP worth $200,000 and a bank account worth $50,000. Unfortunately, when Michael’s father […]

A new law in Ontario will bring some important changes for Wills and Estates. Bill 245 has received Royal Assent but will not come into force until at least January 1, 2022. The new law will make several substantial changes affecting Wills and Estates, including repealing the longstanding rule in the Succession Law Reform Act […]

Johnny Hallyday’s Story   Johnny Hallyday might be the biggest pop star you’ve never heard of. Over the course of a long career based in France, he sold more than 110 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling singers of all time. He was credited with bringing rock and roll to France and was called the French Elvis. However, starting in 2007, […]

Brooke Astor’s Story New York socialite Brooke Astor gave her son Anthony Marshall a Power of Attorney over her financial affairs. Unfortunately, he was untrustworthy. In October 2009, Anthony was convicted of fraud and grand larceny relating to his handling of his late mother’s estate. Among other things, he had given himself a retroactive $1 […]

Etta James’s Story R&B singer Etta James won six Grammy Awards during her career. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2008. That same year, she signed a Power of Attorney appointing her son Donto James to look after her property. Not surprisingly, her current husband, Artis Mills, challenged the Power of Attorney on the basis that she was […]

Leona Helmsley’s Story Real estate tycoon Leona Helmsley, who served time in jail for tax evasion, was referred to in the tabloids as The Queen of Mean. When she died in 2007 at the age of 87, she left an estate worth billions. Her closest surviving relatives were her four grandchildren. For reasons she did not explain, […]