This work details the process for the appointment of the estate trustee with a will, and at what stages the will can be attacked. The substantive grounds for challenging the will’s validity are covered including undue influence, fraud, lack of testamentary capacity, suspicious circumstances and improper execution of the testamentary document.

The appendices contain a complete selection of estates forms under Ontario’s Rules of Civil Procedure for use in contentious estates proceedings. The author provides guidance for compelling the reluctant executor to produce the testamentary document, for revoking the appointment of the estate trustee where fraud has occurred, for making a claim against the estate, and for the appointment of an administrator pending the outcome of the litigation. Practice tips are also provided.