Labour Day used to symbolize an end of summer holidays, return to school for young people and back to work routine for most employers/employees. However this year due to Covid 19, things are alittle more fluid or perhaps I should say- unknown and unsettled. I thought I would take this…
If structuring an estate plan across different Canadian jurisdictions didn’t raise enough considerations for an estate planner, add a different legal system to the mix, namely, Quebec’s civil law. This post focuses on the estate-planning advantages available to clients who hold assets both in Ontario and Quebec, specifically the advantage…
This Blog was written by: Gali Gelbart, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotia Wealth Management Survivorship clauses help ensure that the testator’s intentions are carried out, namely by preventing a gift under the will from falling into the beneficiary’s estate and incurring higher administration costs. By specifying a minimum survival period…
Most adults are familiar with the concept of “rent”: it’s the money you owe every month after signing a lease with a landlord. Related but distinct from “rent” is “occupation rent” – rent’s frequently sought, but little understood, younger cousin who can still pack a punch. Occupation rent fills the…
World Senior Citizen’s Day was originally founded by former president Ronald Regan in 1988. The goal of this day is to remind various governments of its “ commitment to support senior citizens of the country”. Well, I don’t think we have done very well… Dr. Samir Sinha wrote an article…
This post was contributed to by Maureen Berry and Demetre Vasilounis of Fasken. If there is one thing that 2020 has taught us, it is that the world as we know it is capable of changing overnight. While the COVID-19 pandemic has had immeasurable impacts on our economy, our interactions with…
Canada’s 85,896 registered charities have wide-ranging capacity, but these variations are often underappreciated. Estate donors – and their professional advisors – often focus on cause and tax status, but ignore organizational health indicators like history, funding, staffing, and governance. What should estate donors look for in a charity? Although all…
In a recent court decision, the court declined to order costs payable from a modest estate and instead ordered the two parties (both trustees) to pay costs personally. A testamentary trustee, Mr. Cardinal, brought an application to compel estate trustee, Mrs. Perreault, to pass her accounts in her capacity as…
Our epidemiologists and public heath officers are warning us gently that the dreaded virus will be with us for awhile. Nevertheless, we are all hoping that our economy will recover soon (and to some extent our financial markets have), but it appears asset values in general may be depressed for…
Last week Ziggy and I resumed our visits with a couple of my clients who live in their own homes. As we all know Covid had restricted these visits and it was a welcome change after several months. Ziggy as you may recall is an ambassador dog with CNIB and…