About Kimberly Whaley, Heather Hogan

Kimberly A. Whaley is the founder and principal of the Toronto law firm, Whaley Estate Litigation. She is also a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.

Kimberly’s firm, Whaley Estate Litigation, was ranked nationally by the Canadian Lawyer magazine in January 2013, as one of the Top 5 Trusts and Estates Boutiques in Canada.

Kimberly was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law in Vancouver in 2012.

Kimberly was designated as a Certified Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2006. She has been peer rated annually since 2009 by The Best Lawyers in Canada in Estates and Trusts. Kimberly was chosen by Lawday Leading Lawyers as one of the top 60 leading lawyers in Canada in Estates and Trusts. She was given the Martindale-Hubbell – BV Distinguished Rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards.

Kimberly is Past-Chair of the OBA Trusts & Estates Executive, and past member of the OBA, CLE and Institute Executives. She is currently a member of the CBA Elder Law Section Executive. She is on the Expert Advisory Group/Panel for the Law Commission of Ontario’s Law Reform Project as it Relates to Ontario’s Capacity and Guardianship Laws.

Kim is the Toronto branch chair of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Toronto, and as such a Director of STEP CANADA. Kim is also Program Chair, Toronto and is designated as a full member of STEP Worldwide as a Trust and Estate Practitioner, TEP..

Kimberly is a committee member of The Professional Advisory Group of the Baycrest Foundation. Kimberly is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Toronto. Kimberly is on the Estate List Users Committee of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at Toronto.

Kimberly was awarded the Hoffstein Book Prize Award in 2009, recognizing contributions and achievements by Members of the OBA, in Wills, Trusts, Estates, Writing and Teaching. Kimberly was the recipient of the Queen’s University Special Lecturer Award in 2003 where she taught a second year course in Appellate Advocacy as an Adjunct Professor.

Kimberly mediates disputes in her practice areas via estatemediators.ca

Kimberly has taught as an adjunct professor at Queen’s University and the University of Toronto, as well as the Bar Admission Course at Osgoode, and presents at Continuing Legal Education and Professional Development programs for lawyers, as well as at in-house financial institutions, ILCO, Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario, hospitals and other organizations and foundations, universities and colleges. She maintains a teaching affiliation with the University of Toronto and recently taught on the subject of ‘Capacity’ together with Mark Handelman and Laura Watts in a course on Law and Aging.

Kimberly authored the chapter, “Conundrums in Cognition: Planning for the Future”, in “What Next? Navigating Later Life Transitions”, Senior Solutions, Release 2012

Kimberly authored the chapter, “Fiduciary Accounts and Court Passings”, in “Armstrong, Estate Administration: A Solicitor’s Reference Manual”, Carswell and Thomson Reuters, Release 2012-13

Kimberly authored the chapter, “Estates Issues Relating to Ontario Family Law, Property Rights and Obligations.” in “Property Rights and Obligations Under Ontario Family Law”, Canada Law Book, Thomson Reuters, 2012.

Kimberly authored and edited the Canada Law Book publication “Capacity to Marry and the Estate Plan” in 2010, with co-authors: Dr. Michel Silberfeld, Heather McGee and Helena Likwornik.

Kimberly is a co-contributor to the Canada Law Book publication “Key Developments in Estates and Trusts Law in Ontario” published annually since 2008. She authors the chapter, “Passings of Accounts, including Contested Passings.”

Kimberly has authored the following published articles:

• Estates and Trusts Pension Journal: “Capacity and the Estate Lawyer: Comparing the Various Standards of Decisional Capacity” E.T. & P.J., May, 2013
• Just Magazine: “Planning for the Protection of Older Adults—How Can We Protect our Elderly Friends and Family Members who may be Vulnerable to Abuse or Exploitation?”, December 2012
• Advocates Quarterly Journal: “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Complex Role and Duties of Counsel Appointed Under Section 3 of the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992″, Volume 40, Number 3, November 2012
• The Lawyers Weekly: “Executor Exit: Removing a Trustee”, Volume 32, No. 29, November 2012
• Law Times: “DeLorenzo Sends Cautionary Message to Estate Trustees”, September 10, 2012 [co-author Avi Dahary]
• The Lawyers Weekly: “Predatory Marriage Challengers have Limited Options”, Volume 32, No. 19, September 2012
• Advocates Quarterly Journal: “The Intersection of Family and Estates Law: Post-Mortem Claims Made by Modern Day Spouses”, Volume 40, Number 1, June 2012
• Estates and Trusts Pension Journal: “Life after Death: Modern Genetics and the Estate Claim”, Vol. 28, No.2, 2009
• Estates, Trusts and Pensions Journal: “Powers of Attorney and Financial Abuse”, Vol. 27, 2008, No. 4
• Estates and Trusts Pension Journal: “The Use of DNA in Contested Estate Matters”, E.T. & P.J. Vol. 23, 2004 No. 2

Kimberly is the mom of Sammi, age 14. Kim has a new affection for cycling and a renewed interest in photography after a long lapse and is now experimenting with her new Nikon D800. Kim also runs marathons in her spare time and is taking guitar lessons for the first time.

Whaley Estate Litigation

Our Focus

Whaley Estate Litigation focuses on providing advice to, and representation of clients exclusively in the following areas: Will and Estate Challenges; Will and Trust Interpretations; Trust Variations; Dependant Support Applications; Guardianship Applications; Capacity Proceedings in the context of Testamentary Instruments, Power of Attorney documents, Marriage and Inter Vivos Gifting; Passing of Fiduciary Accounts; Trust Disputes; Power of Attorney Litigation; Fiduciary Litigation; Probate Applications; Solicitor’s Negligence; Elder Law and Elder Abuse; Consent and Capacity Board Proceedings including Appeals; and End of Life Decision Making.

We offer different forms of dispute resolution including mediation while acting both as mediators in such issues, as well as counsel facilitating resolution for our own clients by means of mediated settlement and other means of alternative dispute resolution.

We act as Section 3 counsel under the Substitute Decisions Act providing advice pursuant to a Court Appointment.

We act as agents to solicitors in agency retainers.

Issues of undue influence, capacity, fraud, forgery, suspicious circumstances, and the wrongful depletion of assets frequently arise in this practice area. Concepts of alienation and sequestering are also one’s which are prevalent. We assist clients in navigating these very difficult and emotional issues and concepts.

45 Saint Clair Ave. W.
# 600
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 0A2

416 925 7400 Visit Website