Canada Permanent Trust v. Bowman

Canada Permanent Trust v. Bowman

The document, read as a whole and supported by extrinsic evidence, contained a deliberate, fixed and final expression of the disposition of property on death and met the statutory holograph requirements of s.5(b), therefore it was a valid holograph will.

Citation
[1962] SCR 711
Parties
Defendant Appellant: Canada Permanent Trust Company; Defendant Appellant: Alexander Mutchmor Smith; Defendant Appellant: Allan Findlay Smith; Defendant Appellant: William Bowman; Defendant Appellant: Jean Hillyard; Defendant Appellant: Alexander C. Smith; Defendant Appellant: Duncan Bowman; Defendant Appellant: Phyllis Smith; Defendant Appellant: Marjorie Smith; Defendant Appellant: The Public Trustee for the Province of Alberta, Guardian Ad Litem of the Estate of Robert A. Smith, an infant; Plaintiff Respondent: Laura Frazer Bowman; Plaintiff Respondent: Barbara Jean Bowman
Court
Supreme Court of Canada
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
24 April 1962
Procedural Posture
Appeal / On Appeal From the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Alberta
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Holograph Will, Validity of Will, Testamentary Intent, Construction of Wills
Source Language
English
Estates Wills Holograph Will Validity of Will Testamentary Intent Construction of Wills

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Parties

Canada Permanent Trust Company

Defendant Appellant

Alexander Mutchmor Smith

Defendant Appellant

Allan Findlay Smith

Defendant Appellant

William Bowman

Defendant Appellant

Jean Hillyard

Defendant Appellant

Alexander C. Smith

Defendant Appellant

Duncan Bowman

Defendant Appellant

Phyllis Smith

Defendant Appellant

Marjorie Smith

Defendant Appellant

The Public Trustee for the Province of Alberta, Guardian Ad Litem of the Estate of Robert A. Smith, an infant

Defendant Appellant

Laura Frazer Bowman

Plaintiff Respondent

Barbara Jean Bowman

Plaintiff Respondent

Procedural Posture

Appeal / On Appeal From the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Alberta

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether a document wholly in the handwriting of the deceased was intended to be a testamentary instrument
  2. 2 Whether the document satisfied s.5(b) of The Wills Act, R.S.A. 1955, c. 369 as a valid holograph will
  3. 3 Whether extrinsic evidence supports the document as a will

Ratio Decidendi

The document, read as a whole and supported by extrinsic evidence, contained a deliberate, fixed and final expression of the disposition of property on death and met the statutory holograph requirements of s.5(b), therefore it was a valid holograph will.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Appeal dismissed
  • Costs to be paid out of the estate