The number 21 figures prominently in estate planning and administration – at least three separate rules feature the number. Having been involved in estate and trust education for a number of years, I can attest to the fact that the three rules can be confusing on their own and may spell real trouble when applied in combination. The three rules govern: when capital/gains losses generated by trust property must be….
21 x 3 = confusion Continue Reading »
Estate PlanningI recently received an email from the member services department of the Canadian Bar Association which began as follows: “30% of our clients are lawyers that accept personal executor appointments. If it’s good for the lawyer, shouldn’t you tell your estate executor clients that it’s good for them, too?” The “it” in question is Estate Administration Insurance (or Executor Insurance). The language of the communication is pretty provocative: “executor risk….
Comprehensive Advice for Executors Continue Reading »
Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Family ConflictSaturday’s Toronto Star featured an article on a marriage “predator”. The article tells the sad story of an 89 year old man – Charlie – who married a 65 year old woman – Galina – because she promised to look after him and ensure he’d never have to move to a nursing home. They essentially struck a deal: caretaking in exchange for a mention in the Will. Charlie was not….
What happens when you put a ring on it? Continue Reading »
Elder Law, Estate PlanningLast week, along with my associates Teresa Acs and Holly Allardyce, I attended an event presented by law firm WeirFoulds, titled Mind Over Matter: Living with a Healthy Brain. The session featured two “members” of the Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WBHI). WBHI is a charitable non-profit with a mandate to “provide education and fund research to combat brain aging diseases that affect women”. Lynn Posluns is the Founder, President and….
coffee, dark chocolate and red wine Continue Reading »
Estate PlanningThe, seemingly constant, flow of bad news about aging bodies and brains can be depressing. On this site alone I’ve read many chilling facts and statistics on matters impacting our aging population. The prevalence of depression, the frequency and potentially dire consequences of falls and how the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s or a related dementia increases exponentially as we age into our “senior” years, are just some examples that spring quickly to mind. So, it was with great interest….
Good news on the aging brain Continue Reading »
Estate PlanningMarch is fraud prevention month. Fraud is an equal opportunity crime. Fraud targets individuals of all ages, ethnicities and walks of life. Businesses large and small can also fall victim. That being said, seniors are particularly vulnerable. Fraud is the leading type of crime experienced by older Canadians. According to the Government of Canada, at a site titled What every older Canadian should know about: Fraud and scams, seniors are….
Recognize, Reject and Report! Continue Reading »
Elder Care, Estate Planning