November 2023

The Gift of Peace of Mind: Estate Planning during the Holiday Season

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  As the holiday season approaches, our thoughts naturally turn to gift-giving, festive gatherings, and the joy of spending time with loved ones. Amidst the holiday cheer, it is important to recognize the profound gift of peace of mind that comes with a well-considered estate and trust plan.  While estate planning may feel like a weighty or taboo subject, the holidays offer an opportune moment to broach the subject and….

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Uncategorized, Wills

Proportionality and costs awards

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In Fanelli v. Fanelli-Bruno, 2023 ONSC 6501, Justice Myers provided clear direction on the principle of proportionality in litigation, and the ways in which it can influence a decision on costs.   The decision The estate of Ms. Lina Fanelli, the mother of the Applicant and Respondent, was the subject of the recent Fanelli decision, which was released earlier this month. Approximately one year before her death, Ms. Fanelli drafted….

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Contested wills, Costs, Estate Litigation, Undue influence, Wills

Non-Resident Beneficiary and Part XIII Withholding Tax – Trustee Beware

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When trustees distribute income of a trust to a non-resident beneficiary, they must be mindful of potential Canadian tax implications. Part XIII tax is a tax withheld at source when income is paid to a non-resident. For Canadian trust and estate purposes, Part XIII requires a non-resident beneficiary to pay tax on certain amounts that a Canadian trust or estate pays or credits (or is deemed to pay or credit)….

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Tax Issues, Trustee, Trusts

How Separate is “Separate as to Property”?

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This blog has been written by Darren Lund a partner at Fasken LLP. Marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements are an increasingly important aspect of estate planning and wealth preservation. They can be used for a number of reasons and in a variety of contexts. Think of the parents wishing to protect a cash gift to a child to assist with the purchase of a home, the business owner who wants….

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Estate Planning, Property, Spouse, Trusts

Modernizing Ontario Wills: a case update

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In Ontario, Bill 245, a large omnibus Bill, the Accelerating Access to Justice Act 2021 (AAJA) received Royal assent on April 19, 2021. It made amendments to many Ontario statutes. Schedule 9 of this Act made significant changes to the Succession Law Reform Act, R. S.O. 1990, c.S. 26 (SLRA) which had been largely unchanged since it was enacted over 40 years ago. Many of these amendments bring Ontario in….

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Courts, Wills
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