OWNERSHIP OF FOREIGN PROPERTY

The Huffington Post reports that over a third of foreign buyers of real estate in Florida are Canadians. Another article reports that Canadians are the leading buyers of US real estate. In earlier blogs I’ve talked about the specter of US estate taxes that arises when a Canadian dies owning US situs property, like real estate. Besides this complexity, the ownership of foreign property raises the potential for challenges in the administration of an estate. As a result, when developing an estate plan that includes foreign real estate it is important to consider a number of issues, some of which are…….

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Canadian and US Tax Treaty, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate Tax, United States, US Taxes, Wills

Nobel Peace Prize’s Breach of Trust?

Norwegian lawyer Fredrik Heffermehl thinks the Nobel Foundation has blatantly ignored the intentions of Alfred Nobel for his namesake Peace Prize. Nobel’s will stipulated that the prize be awarded to the ”most worthy champions of peace”. Specifically it should go to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and….

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Charitable Giving, Contested wills, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Trustee Disputes

Privacy Rights, Public Access and Sealing Orders

Litigants in estates proceedings are sometimes concerned that sensitive and private information – though relevant to the court proceedings – will be made publicly available once filed with the court. Litigants may wonder whether that information can be kept “under wraps”. Indeed, our courts retain the ability to prevent information and documentation from being available to the public; the provisions restricting public access to hearings and documents are found in sections….

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Estate Litigation

Testamentary Capacity and Lewy Body Dementia

Today’s blog was written by guest blogger Dr. Richard Shulman. Dr. Shulman is a Geriatric  Psychiatrist, and is the Service Medical Director for Seniors Mental Health Services at Trillium Health Partners (Mississauga Hospital, Credit Valley Hospital and Queensway Health Centre). He is available for independent medical-legal capacity assessments. He is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. It was my pleasure to have participated in the recent 18th annual Estates and Trusts….

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Geriatric Care Management, In the News, Testamentary Capacity

Principal residence and co-ownership (continued)

In my last blog on this topic I shared with you the comments of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on an implied agreement between a couple regarding their ownership of a property. The CRA went on to comment on the tax implications of both an actual and a deemed sale…..

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, Executors, Joint Tenancy, Property, Tax Issues, Trustee
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