Testamentary Trusts – Are they Dead?

Dating back to the 12th century when the English court of equity created the concept of the “use”, which in modern day is known as the “trust”, trusts have been an important tool in estate planning for both tax and non-tax reasons. Prior to January 1, 2016, testamentary trusts had enhanced tax benefits for purposes of incorporating into an estate plan. Effective January 1, 2016, changes to the Income Tax Act (the “ITA”) eliminated one of these enhanced tax benefits that testamentary trusts offered, leading practitioners to ask whether testamentary trusts continue to serve a purpose in a individual’s estate plan…..

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Estate Planning, Trusts

University’s Decision on Spending $4 Million Bequest from Frugal Donor is Controversial, Fully Permissible

University of New Hampshire library cataloger and alumnus Robert Morin died in 2015 at the age of 77. Morin, known for his thrifty lifestyle, spent little on food or clothes, and drove a 1992 Plymouth until his death. His will bequeathed a $4 million fortune to his employer, with the only instructions that $100,000 of the gift be spent at the school’s Dimond Library, where Morin worked. However, controversy later….

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Estate Litigation, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving

LATE FILED ELECTION TO SPLIT PENSION INCOME

While we are on the subject of joint elections to split pension income in the year of death: What if, as trustee of the estate, you discover that the deceased and his spouse did not split eligible pension income in the years prior to his year of death. Can you late file the elections and will the CRA accept them and re-assess accordingly? Recently the CRA was asked to comment….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Liability, Spouse, Trustee

Registered Disability Savings Plans – Don’t Overlook Them!

An incredibly useful and sometimes overlooked tool in planning for a client with a disabled loved one is the Registered Disability Savings Plan (“RDSP”). Here are a few key facts to know in discussing RDSPs with your client:[1] To qualify for an RDSP, the beneficiary must be eligible for the disability tax credit (“DTC” ). A person will be eligible for the DTC only if a medical practitioner (usually the….

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Estate Planning
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