It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over*

A “passing of accounts” refers to the process of formally preparing and presenting accounts to the beneficiaries and the court. The accounts are either approved (i.e., “passed”) in the form presented, amended by court order and passed in revised form, or not passed because the court is not satisfied with the accounts or some aspect of the administration of the estate or property being managed by a fiduciary. Pursuant to….

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Capacity Law, Caregiving, Costs, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Litigation, Executors, Family Conflict, Fiduciary Professions, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Trustee, Trustee Disputes

Butterfly, Eden Alternative and Green House Project coming to Toronto funded Long Term Care homes- sometime down the road.

 As you know we have had a crisis in our Long Term Care homes. Not enough beds and not enough staff. I have blogged extensively on the subject.  However there is some light starting to shine through.  As you may know the City of Toronto operates 10 long term care homes (2,600 beds), including: Bendale AcresCarefree LodgeCastleview WychwoodCummer LodgeFudger HouseKipling AcresLakeshore LodgeSeven OaksTrue Davidson Acres andWesburn Manor Councillor Josh Matlow….

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Elder Care, Uncategorized

Electronic Beneficiary Designations for Insurance Products

In 2018, the Ontario government introduced amendments to the Pension Benefits Act to permit pension plan administrators to accept electronic beneficiary designations. Specifically, the Pension Benefits Act was amended to include the following provision (among others): Electronic designation of beneficiaries 30.1.1  (1)  Despite anything to the contrary in the Succession Law Reform Act, an administrator may permit members, former members and retired members to designate beneficiaries electronically for the purposes….

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Uncategorized

Some Thoughts on Explaining Differences in Expert Opinions

Experts giving evidence in an Ontario court are obliged to sign an acknowledgement that they are independent, with their obligation being to the court and not to the party who retained them. Nonetheless, scepticism regarding objectiveness and discrepancies between expert opinions remains, as demonstrated in the reasons of Justice Mesbur in Plese v. Herjavec, 2018 ONSC 7749: [89]      I have always been tempted to ask valuators whether their opinions would….

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Capacity Law, Elder Law, Family Conflict, Geriatric Care Management, Guardianship, Healthcare, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Testamentary Capacity

Isle of Trusts

Spring is (kind of) here and summer is (hopefully) around the corner.  Like every year, Torontonians will no doubt soon make their way to the Toronto Islands during the summer weekends.  A group of 15 islands interconnected by pathways and bridges in Lake Ontario, the Islands are approximately 15 minutes away by ferry from downtown Toronto.  With its beaches, activities, and nature paths, it’s a popular spot for Torontonians to….

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Estate Planning, Property, Real Estate

Significant Tax Re-Assessment Due to An Estate Valuation Gone Wrong

I have been writing about valuations for estate plan agreements, highlighting that they should be based on fair and reasonable methods, prepared in good faith, properly supported and documented at the time of valuation. In Lewin v. the Queen 2019 TCC 21, The Lewin Estate was appealing a significant tax reassessment of the deceased’s terminal return issued some five years after the original assessment. The issue to be decided is….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Executors, Investments, Tax Issues, Trustee, Uncategorized
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