May 15, 2025 – Section 55(1), FLA & Witnessing of Domestic Contracts

“Justice Pepall’s decision in Virc v. Blair is consistent with a substantial body of case law in Ontario, and in other provinces with similar legislation, holding that the strict requirements of s. 55(1) may be relaxed where the court is satisfied that the contract was in fact executed by the parties, where the terms are reasonable and where there was no oppression or unfairness in the circumstances surrounding the negotiation and execution of the contract: see Geropoulos v. Geropoulos (1982), 1982 CanLII 2020 (ON CA), 35 O.R. (2d) 763 (C.A.); Campbell v. CampbellHyldtoft v. Hyldtoft (1991), 1991 CanLII 12868 (ON SC), 33 R.F.L. (3d) 99 (Ont. Gen. Div.); Harris v. Harris (1996), 7 O.T.C. 265 (Gen. Div.); Pastoor v. Pastoor (2007), 2007 CanLII 28331 (ON SC), 48 R.F.L. (6th) 94 (Ont. S.C.); Robinson v. Robinson, 2006 BCSC 663; Waters v. Conrod, 2007 BCCA 230; Judson v. Judson (1995), 1995 CanLII 17988 (PE SCTD), 129 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 302 (S.C.); Ngeruka v. Bruce, 2010 YKSC 51.”

            Gallacher v. Friesen, 2014 ONCA 399 (CanLII) at 27

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