Brittany Sud

Advantages and Disadvantages of Charitable Remainder Trusts[1]

A charitable remainder trust is an underutilized philanthropic tool where a charity is given a future monetary benefit, while the donor receives immediate tax relief in respect of the charitable contribution. Typically, a donor irrevocably contributes property to a trust for the lifetime of a beneficiary, with a charity being the residual capital beneficiary upon the death of the lifetime beneficiary. The lifetime beneficiary has the right to the income….

Advantages and Disadvantages of Charitable Remainder Trusts[1] Continue Reading »

Charitable Giving, Trusts

Could a “non-human person” ever be a beneficiary of a will?

Today’s blog comes to you from Student-at-Law, Demetre Vasilounis. In 2013, the Government of India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests ignited a discussion in the international legal community by deciding to prohibit dolphinariums as well as any enterprise that involves the import or capture of cetacean species (dolphins, whales, porpoises) for the purposes of commercial entertainment. This was notable because the Ministry suggested that dolphins in particular should be seen as “non-human….

Could a “non-human person” ever be a beneficiary of a will? Continue Reading »

In the News, Wills

Common Pitfalls in Estate Planning for Blended Families

Common Pitfalls in Estate Planning for Blended Families[1] The traditional concept of the nuclear family (i.e., mother, father and one or more children of a single relationship) has evolved over the years. The modern family is more complicated and may consist of parents who are in second or third relationships and who bring into a relationship  children from one or more prior relationships.  To further complicate the familial structure, there….

Common Pitfalls in Estate Planning for Blended Families Continue Reading »

Estate Planning, Wills

In the Wake of Canada Without Poverty: Next Steps for Charities and Political Activities

Today’s blog comes to you from Student-at-Law, Jake Woloshyn In the 2018 Ontario Superior Court of Justice case, Canada Without Poverty v AG Canada, 2018 ONSC 4147 (Canada Without Poverty), Morgan J. held that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) interpretation of the ‘substantially all’ condition in s. 149.1(6.2) of the Income Tax Act (ITA) – an interpretation that requires a charitable organization to use substantially all (no less than 90%)….

In the Wake of Canada Without Poverty: Next Steps for Charities and Political Activities Continue Reading »

Charitable Giving, In the News

Qualifying Costs of Medical Assistance in Dying may be Eligible for the Medical Expense Tax Credit

I previously blogged about the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Carter v. Canada[1], which ruled that Canadians are entitled to obtain medical assistance to end their lives under appropriate circumstances (See Blog on Medical Assistance in Dying – Where Are We Now?). A question that stems from that ruling is whether the costs for engaging in medical assistance in dying are eligible medical expenses for the purposes of the….

Qualifying Costs of Medical Assistance in Dying may be Eligible for the Medical Expense Tax Credit Continue Reading »

Tax Issues

An Inconvenient Truth: Cross-border Estate Barriers for Non-Resident Executors

Today’s blog comes to you from Student-at-Law, Derrick Raphael. As a new resident of Canada there are several issues that an individual must consider such as tax implications while residing in the country as well as one’s previous jurisdiction. Additional areas of interest regard how to manage assets, property and other investments when an estate needs to be distributed. Personally as a newcomer to Canada I had yet to think about….

An Inconvenient Truth: Cross-border Estate Barriers for Non-Resident Executors Continue Reading »

Estate Planning, Tax Issues, Uncategorized, United States, US Taxes, Wills
Scroll to Top