As the holiday season draws to a close, and the cheese supply in my fridge appears to be finally exhausted, I find myself wondering who among us (or among our clients) – has had that sort of holiday season that has them ready to update their will and undo the gift to their sister that, after the fight over whether or not to add mustard to the vinaigrette, seems unwarranted….
I want to disinherit my family Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, Wills
One of the joys of estate planning in Canada is that the law varies from province to province. Most of the country follows common law and we in Quebec follow the civil code. For those of you working outside of Quebec, you may encounter clients with assets in Quebec. With that in mind, here are some comments on the impact of Quebec-situated assets for clients living throughout the common law….
For some, collecting is a way of life. Unique legal and practical issues arise for an executor when an estate includes a collection. In this article, I explore some of those issues when dealing with collections of fine wine, cultural artifacts, and firearms. Wine During COVID, the Ontario government made changes to liquor laws that could affect an executor’s role when dealing with a fine wine collection as an….
Collections as Estate Assets Continue Reading »
Uncategorized
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….
The Gift of Peace of Mind: Estate Planning during the Holiday Season Continue Reading »
Uncategorized, WillsIn 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….
Modernizing Ontario Wills: a case update Continue Reading »
Courts, Wills
Today’s post was written by Diana Leopardi – Estate and Trust Consultant at Scotiatrust. What can be worse than having a Will that does not reflect your wealth transfer wishes…that is, not having a Will at all! Suppose you have a Will in place, it is prudent to ensure that your Will properly reflects your wealth transfer wishes. As a best practise we encourage our clients to review their Wills….
Does your Will reflect your wealth transfer wishes? Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, Separation, Wills