October 2015

Gifting and Incapacity – A Cautionary Tale

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Parents are living longer and gifting money to their children before they die or by way of a last minute will. Distrust and disbelieve inevitably arise. The courts are called upon more and more to settle family disputes with all of the attendant rancor and costs. The case of Foley v. McIntyre helps sorts out some of the legal issues. ….

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Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Joint Tenancy, Succession Planning, Testamentary Capacity

Graduated Rate Estates: Does the 36 month rule mean a maximum of 3 taxation years?

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As my fellow bloggers have written, there are now 3 types of testamentary trusts under our tax law: a Graduated Rate Estate (“GRE”), a Qualified Disability Trust (“QDT”) and all other testamentary trusts (“OTT”). Previously, all testamentary trusts were generally taxed in the same way individuals were – at graduated tax rates. Effective January 1, 2016, OTT’s will be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate. However, GRE’s which generally….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Planning, Executors, In the News, Investments, Property, Succession Planning, Tax Issues, Trusts, Wills

OWNERSHIP OF FOREIGN PROPERTY

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The Huffington Post reports that over a third of foreign buyers of real estate in Florida are Canadians. Another article reports that Canadians are the leading buyers of US real estate. In earlier blogs I’ve talked about the specter of US estate taxes that arises when a Canadian dies owning US situs property, like real estate. Besides this complexity, the ownership of foreign property raises the potential for challenges in the administration of an estate. As a result, when developing an estate plan that includes foreign real estate it is important to consider a number of issues, some of which are…….

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Canadian and US Tax Treaty, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate Tax, United States, US Taxes, Wills

Nobel Peace Prize’s Breach of Trust?

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Norwegian lawyer Fredrik Heffermehl thinks the Nobel Foundation has blatantly ignored the intentions of Alfred Nobel for his namesake Peace Prize. Nobel’s will stipulated that the prize be awarded to the ”most worthy champions of peace”. Specifically it should go to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and….

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Charitable Giving, Contested wills, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Trustee Disputes

Privacy Rights, Public Access and Sealing Orders

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Litigants in estates proceedings are sometimes concerned that sensitive and private information – though relevant to the court proceedings – will be made publicly available once filed with the court. Litigants may wonder whether that information can be kept “under wraps”. Indeed, our courts retain the ability to prevent information and documentation from being available to the public; the provisions restricting public access to hearings and documents are found in sections….

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Estate Litigation
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