To purchase this video please click “Add to Cart”.
Login to watch this video if you have a subscription. Learn more about subscriptions.This video is Part 2 of a two-part program on risk mitigation in estate planning and administration. Moderated by Jordan Atin, this session shifts to risk in estate administration and focuses on the practical and legal issues that arise when lawyers and estate trustees begin administering an estate.
Joined by Raymond Leclair, Vice President of Public Affairs at LawPro, Ian Hull, Partner at Hull & Hull, Ron Badr, Director of Estatesearch, and Ari Brojde, CEO of Estateably, the panel examines the importance of getting an administration off to the right start. The discussion highlights early-stage due diligence, including identifying assets and liabilities, conducting financial institution and title searches, verifying ownership, and understanding how missed assets or overlooked issues can create added cost, delay, and potential liability for both estate trustees and their lawyers.
The video also explores the growing role of technology in estate administration, including tools that assist with asset discovery, customized task management, probate application preparation, and estate accounting. The panel explains how technology can reduce repetitive manual work, improve accuracy, and help lawyers maintain better records, while also emphasizing that these tools still require careful review and professional judgment. Practical attention is given to the risks associated with probate applications, rejected filings, incomplete information, and the need to tailor administration steps to the specific circumstances of each estate.
Particular focus is given to evolving issues surrounding wills in the administration context, including substantial compliance, unsigned or partially signed documents, draft wills, lost wills, and the limits of digital copies. The discussion also addresses the importance of communication and transparency with beneficiaries, the strategic role of passing of accounts, and the need for careful documentation throughout the administration process. Through practical examples and professional experience, this second session provides useful guidance for reducing risk, improving efficiency, and managing estate administration files with greater confidence.
Jordan is a Certified Specialists in Estates and Trusts Law and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada. Lexpert rates Jordan as one of its top recommended estate lawyers in Canada as well as being rated as a Best Lawyer in Canada. In addition to his planning and administration practice, Jordan is Counsel to Hull & Hull LLP and an experienced estates mediator. He is a Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association - Trust and Estates Section and a full member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Jordan was the inaugural winner of the OBA’s Hoffstein Prize in recognition of his contributions and achievements in the area of wills, trusts and estates.
Ian is a lecturer at the Ontario Bar Admission course and guest lecturer for the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada. He is also the author of four books on estate law issues – including the seminal Probate Practice, now in its fourth edition – and numerous articles.
Ian has an LL.B. from the University of Windsor and an Honours B.A. from the University of Western Ontario. He was called to the bar in 1990. He is a certified specialist in estate and trust law and civil litigation, a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He was chosen by LawDay as one of the top 60 estate and trust lawyers for 2009 and 2010.
Ray Leclair joined Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LawPRO) in June of 2008 in the role of Vice President, TitlePLUS, and as of May, 2012 became Vice President, Public Affairs, responsible for government relations efforts at LawPRO.
Formerly General Counsel for the Kanata Research Park Corporation, a development company and major commercial landlord in Ottawa, Ray has practised in both major national law firms and as a sole practitioner, and was a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa Law School and Cité Collégiale instructing the French language portion of the real estate law course. He also served for 15 years as the Ottawa senior instructor for the French and English Real Estate Sections of the Bar Admission Course and member of the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Solicitor Advisory Group, Licensing Process.
Called to the bar in 1984, Ray is Past-Chair and remains an active participant of both the National Real Property Section of the Canadian Bar Association and of the Real Property Section of the Ontario Bar Association, past Co-Chair and remains a member of the Working Group on Lawyers & Real Estate, and President of the Ontario Real Estate Lawyers Association (ORELA). Former member of the Ontario Bar Association Council, past executive member of CBA’s National Sections Council, past member of its budget committee and formerly Vice President of the North American Bar-related® Title Insurers, past President of the Advisory Committee for the Cité Collégiale Legal Assistants Program. Ray volunteered as Manager of the fundraiser TOM* MensFashion4Hope and a VIP & Sponsor Relations Officer for semi-annual Toronto Men’s Fashion Week (TOM*). Ray is and has been a frequent speaker/presenter, in French or English, in numerous programs on various real estate and other law related topics in Canada and the United States.
*see individual programs and jurisidictional allowances for accredited hours/requirements for Canadian law societies.
See how easy it is to complete your legal and finance Continuing Professional Development online.
Call us at 1-888-295-4868 or send us an email.
*see individual programs and jurisidictional allowances for accredited hours/requirements for Canadian law societies.
