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Not All Questions Are Appropriate for an Advice, Opinion or Directions Application: Discretion Must be Exercised by the Trustee, and not by the Court

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Anna Chen, Associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Often, estate trustees or trustees apply to the court for its opinion, advice or direction in respect to issues in the administration of the estates or trusts.  The questions put to the court may range from the interpretation of a clause in a testamentary instrument or questions as to whether the estate trustee or trustee has the authority to carry out certain steps….

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Estate Litigation

Closer to Answering “Is This a Bare Trust?”

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Tangled Ropes Photo by Malcolm Burrows

Andrew Coates, Associate, Gowling (WLG) Canada In April, I wrote an article about the Canada Revenue Agency’s (the “CRA”) 11th hour reversal on requiring bare trusts to file T3 returns and Schedule 15s because of the confusion of Canadians and tax professionals alike in answering the question: is this a bare trust? It seems we are getting closer to answering this question based on an announcement from CRA on October….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Tax Issues, Trusts

The New Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive and Your Succession Plan

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Donya Ashnaei articling student and Maddi Thomas, associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Introduction Following a year marked by low GDP growth, high inflation, and rising interest rates, the federal government unveiled several proposed measures in Budget 2024, including an increase in the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 66.67% for corporations and trusts, and from 50% to 66.67%  on the portion of capital gains realized in the year that….

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Succession Planning, Tax Issues

Medical Evidence Under Sections 35 and 52 of the Evidence Act and Rule 53.03 of the Rules of Civil Procedure

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Irina Samborski, associate and Nina Fainman-Adelman, consultant, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Introduction The recent Ontario Superior Court decision, The Estate of William Robert Waters v Gillian Henry et al, 2024 ONSC 4190 (CanLII) (“Waters”) highlighted the importance of medical evidence in estate litigation. In that case, Justice Callaghan relied on the testator’s medical records—specifically, a prescription for an erectile dysfunction drug and a note reading “got a gf”—to find that….

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Estate Litigation

Jointing family assets to avoid probate: Is it still that simple?

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Douglas Buchmayer, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP As many of you will be aware, probate is the process by which the Will of a deceased person is submitted to the Court for verification. A tax under the Estate Administration Tax Act of Ontario (formerly known as “probate fees”) of 1.5% is levied on the value of all assets of the deceased dealt with by that Will. Notionally not included in the….

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Estate Planning, Uncategorized

Waters v Henry: Respecting a Testator’s Free Will to Make “Bad” Decisions

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Irina Samborski, associate and Caroline Mercer, articling student, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP When an estate is litigated, a deceased person’s decision-making is forced into the public record. Sometimes, the court is asked to pass judgement and correct decisions that may seem unreasonable or unfair. However, some courts prefer to uphold the deceased’s freedom to decide—no matter what the living may think. This was the case in The Estate of William….

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Contested wills, Courts, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning
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