Today’s blog is being brought to you by guest blogger, Jennifer Campbell, a law clerk in the Private Client Services group of Fasken LLP. The time finally came that my brother and I have had to have “the talk” with our parents. No no, not THAT talk. Rather, the talk with them about whether it was time for them to “downsize” because of their age or whether they should start….
An “ah ha” of COVID-19 is the importance of unrestricted giving to charity. Donors, foundations and charities are realizing that excess conditions may hinders responses to urgent social needs. Will this insight last beyond the pandemic? And does it apply to estate donations? Trust-Based Philanthropy First a bit of context. In the charity world, particularly among granting foundations, there is a growing movement called “trust-based philanthropy”. The tenets of this….
Unrestricted Giving – In Life and Estates Continue Reading »
Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable GivingIn the recent decision of Volk v. Volk, 2020 ONCA 297, the Court of Appeal for Ontario declined the moving parties’ motion for a stay pending appeal of an Order granting the sale of real property alleged to have been purchased by attorneys for property with the funds of the incapable grantor. Facts: The underlying application involved the property of Doris Volk (“Doris”). Doris was incapable, and her property was….
It is with the heaviest of heart that I write today’s blog after saying my final goodbye to my mother. My mother often inspired my writings and most Monday’s she would send me a note, saying no more than ‘ hi lovey, good blog today’. It took a little while to show her that if she hit reply, it went to the webmaster and that she could either forward or….
Grateful to have had time to say goodbye Continue Reading »
Elder Care
This is a three-part blog series that seeks to explore the manner in which one can conduct estate planning with respect to their copy of the popular 2020 Nintendo Switch video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Part I discussed the importance of this topic and described the applicability of a non-charitable purpose trust to this type of estate planning. Part II examines the practical considerations for operating a non-charitable purpose….
Unhappily, it is not uncommon for family members to be at loggerheads as to who controls the body of a loved one and whether the body should be cremated or buried. I previously blogged on the 2018 case Miller v. Miller, a decision by Justice Myers of the ONSC, which dealt with this issue. In summary, the estate trustee has the authority to make funeral and burial arrangements. Nevertheless, fights….
Unclaimed Bodies and Setting Things Right Continue Reading »
Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Executors, Family Conflict, Funeral Planning