This blog was written by Suzanne Singh For several years our company had been “D’s” appointed attorney under her POA. Up until her late-eighties D was independent and occasionally took a bus downtown to drop by our office to invite me for coffee; she would share stories of her youth in rural Ontario and her adventures as a young married woman in post-WWII era Winnipeg. She was charismatic and engaging….
Things Left Behind Continue Reading »
UncategorizedNow that border crossings have opened, many families will be traveling this week for the American Thanksgiving holiday. If you live in a different city than your parents, the time spent together during the holiday can allow you to see how well they are managing. Be aware of the small things and things that are different. For example, are you noticing weight loss, balance issues, is Mom now finishing Dad’s….
Please Pass the Turkey Continue Reading »
CaregivingToday’s blog was written by Courtney Lanthier, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP With winter sneaking up on us (rather quickly, I might add) and the travel bans slowly being lifted, we’re bound to get an influx of calls and e-mails from clients wanting to update their estate plans or check in to make sure everything is as it should be. If you find yourself in this situation, here are a….
Think about your Estate Plan before you travel… Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, Uncategorized“Name That Charity” sounds like a failed 1960s game show. Instead, it is an approach to estate planning that paradoxically may discourage charitable giving. This is an observation made by Kathy Hawkesworth of the Edmonton Community Foundation in a recent presentation to the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioner (STEP). Kathy’s point is financial advisors and estate lawyers often put their clients on the spot. Do they have charitable interests?….
Name That Charity! Continue Reading »
Charitable Giving, Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized
Determining the bearer of the tax burden on income earned in an individual’s estate is not as simple as one might think. There are some basic taxation rules that apply to an estate which result in either the estate or the beneficiaries becoming ultimately liable for the tax. The tax burden An estate is responsible to pay tax on the income earned from assets held by the estate where the….
The executor’s year – taxation “not made” simple Continue Reading »
Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, ExecutorsAll of us have our share of stories, sadness, struggles and hopefully successes. Last night I was watching one of the Korean series that I have been enjoying and it highlighted the story of a gentleman with dementia who had been abandoned by his family. The scene opens with this older gentleman repeatedly asking the staff at the facility where he was living to take him to this particular restaurant…..
A universal language Continue Reading »
Caregiving