March 2017

LCO Releases Report on Capacity, Decision-making and Guardianship Laws

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Last week, the Law Commission of Ontario (“LCO”) released and presented to the provincial government, their final report reviewing Ontario’s statutory framework for legal capacity, decision-making and guardianship matters. The LCO focused on the relevant capacity provisions found in the Health Care Consent Act, the Substitute Decisions Act (“SDA”), and the Mental Health Act (“MHA”).  The report makes 58 recommendations to address issues such as financial elder abuse, misuse of….

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Attorney Compensation, Capacity Law, Elder Law, Fiduciary Professions, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes

Unrealized Capital Gains: Take Action Now?

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As we head toward another federal budget to be released on March 22, there is much speculation about a change in the capital gain inclusion rate from 50% to 66.67% or 75%. Current Capital Gain Tax As the rules are currently written, only 50% of a capital gain is subject to tax in Canada. For an Ontario resident, the combined Federal and Ontario tax rate applicable to a high rate….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, In the News, Investments, Property, Real Estate, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized

What Does A Healthy Meal Cost?

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A complimentary copy of the Saturday Star was delivered to my door so I had the pleasure of holding a newspaper in my hand while enjoying my morning coffee (note: we have gone ‘paperless’ and I am not a happy convert). The headlines grabbed my attention: ‘Nursing homes feed seniors on $8.33 a day’. This is not very much money- especially as I calculated the cost of my Nespresso ($.75)….

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Costs, Elder Care, In the News

The 21-Year Deemed Disposition Rule

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Generally speaking, a personal trust is deemed to have disposed of its entire capital property and land inventory on the 21st anniversary of the creation of the trust and every 21 years thereafter for proceeds equal to its fair market value and to have required the same property immediately thereafter for an amount equal to that fair market value.  This means trusts may be required to realize and pay tax….

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Estate Planning, Trusts

Does Donor Recognition Create Obligations?

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Is a donor obliged to provide ongoing support to a charity after a building or facility is named in their honour?  The legal answer is “no”.  Naming, however, may stir up complex feelings of ownership and hope, which often lead to misunderstandings — even after the donor is dead. Ownership Donors and their descendants understandably feel ownership for a facility in the family name.  The place, for example, may define….

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Estate Administration, Estate Donations, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized

Dementia does not Preclude Testamentary Capacity

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Unhappy beneficiaries often challenge the validity of a loved one’s will on the grounds that the testator lacked the capacity to execute a will. Applicants use evidence of the testator’s dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (and other mental disorders) to establish that the testator lacked capacity to execute a will. However, it is important to keep in mind that capacity is time specific. A diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, for….

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Capacity Law, Elder Law, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Succession Planning, Testamentary Capacity, Wills
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