As this is the last blog before we take a break for the holiday (we return on Monday), and as the year is drawing to a close, I thought that I would touch base on the life circumstances that should lead to a review and reconsideration of your current estate plan…..
Reviewing and Reconsidering your Estate Plan – When and Why? Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, WillsFurther to my colleague Corina Weigl’s discussion of U.S. estate taxes, I thought readers might be interested in a U.S. constitutional litigation that has been launched in response to the U.S. estate tax burden borne by the survivor of a same-sex marriage…..
U.S. Estate Tax Burden Results in Challenge of US Federal Marriage Law Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, US TaxesWhen making charitable gifts by Will, many donors wish to ensure that their gift has a long-term meaningful impact that will enable charitable activities to be carried out long after their deaths…..
Perpetual Testamentary Charitable Trusts Continue Reading »
Charitable Giving, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable GivingIn Ontario, property that a deceased owns as a joint tenant with another person does not form part of his estate for probate tax calculation purposes. As a result, significant attention is now being paid to the use of joint ownership as an estate planning technique to reduce or avoid probate taxes for both real and personal property. However, when property is transferred into joint ownership there are many issues that should be considered other than the potential probate tax savings. ….
Probate Tax Planning – Joint Tenancy May Not Always Be the Best Option Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, Joint Tenancy, Probate TaxIn their later years, donors often make commitments to charities with respect to the charitable giving that they intend to carry out during their lifetimes. Often these commitments are expressed by means of the donor and the charity entering into a written charitable pledge agreement…..
Ensuring Charitable Pledges Are Honoured Following Death Continue Reading »
Charitable Giving, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, WillsSmall businesses make up a large percentage of the Ontario business community and a good number of these small businesses are organized as sole proprietorships. ….
Small Business Estate Planning Issues Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, Small Business, Succession Planning, Wills