When Spouses “Separate” Due to Changing Medical Needs

This blog was written by Christina Papadopoulos, student-at-law at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP. How does a physical separation caused by the admission of one spouse into a long-term care facility impact the interpretation of a will? This was the question posed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Stuart v. Stuart, 2019 ONSC 4328. In that case, a married couple lived together in a property they owned as tenants….

When Spouses “Separate” Due to Changing Medical Needs Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Spouse, Wills

Inclusion of Life Insurance loan in Income

In Neszt v. The Queen 2019 DTC 1105, the taxpayer held two life insurance policies with a life insurance company. He subsequently took personal loans against his life insurance policies. The amount of each such loan was greater than the adjusted cost base of each policy, (being the sum of premiums paid by the insured minus dividends declared and cost of insurance.) The life insurance company issued two T5 slips….

Inclusion of Life Insurance loan in Income Continue Reading »

Canada Revenue Agency, Insurance, Loans, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

Senior’s Issues and the Upcoming Federal Election

I had a wonderful opportunity last week to be part of panel discussion on CTV Your Morning  to discuss issues that are critical for seniors.  Certainly an important topic as we approach election day. The National Seniors Strategy   is really the document that outlines what needs to be done.  I cannot comment on what the parties promise or what they will implement, but I know that much work has gone….

Senior’s Issues and the Upcoming Federal Election Continue Reading »

Elder Care, In the News

The Time of Your Life (Interest)

I was recently asked about the tax implications of creating a life interest in real property. When I use the term “life interest” in this context I am not referring to a typical scenario in which a property is transferred to trustees and held in a trust, the terms of which provide a beneficiary, often referred to as the lifetime beneficiary, with the exclusive use and enjoyment of the property….

The Time of Your Life (Interest) Continue Reading »

Uncategorized

Grammar saves lives

  In this week’s blog I’m going to try to do the impossible; make syntax and legal drafting interesting. Why? One comma can be the difference between life and death. It’s the difference between: Let’s eat Grandma! and Let’s eat, Grandma! Legalese, not so easy In the context of an estate, how do you interpret the following? All of the residue and remainder of my property I give and devise….

Grammar saves lives Continue Reading »

Contested wills, Contracts, Estate Litigation, Uncategorized, Wills

Power of Attorney Disputes: Effective Capacity Assessments

I was honoured to moderate a panel today at the Advocates’ Society’s CPD today “Capable or Not? How to Effectively Litigate and Mediate a Power of Attorney Dispute” (which will be available for purchase online in a couple of months as a webcast archive at TAS’ website). Justices McEwen and Pattillo both spoke and both justices agreed that Justice Penny’s recent decision in Adler v. Gregor, 2019 ONSC 3037 should be….

Power of Attorney Disputes: Effective Capacity Assessments Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Elder Law, Guardianship, Power of Attorney
Scroll to Top