Estate Administration

Total 510 Posts

What Makes an Estate “Complex”? It’s About More Than Wealth

Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Jean Yong, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Toronto   One of the most common things I hear from clients is, “I don’t think my estate is that complicated.” What they’re often really telling me is, “I don’t have enough money for estate planning to matter.” It’s an understandable assumption. When we hear the term complex estate, we tend to picture multiple properties, private corporations, substantial investment portfolios….

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Estate Administration, Estate Planning

All About Estates & de VRIES LITIGATION LLP: Sharing More Insights in More Places

The All About Estates blog now has a home on LinkedIn. Our collaborative blog, All About Estates, is now over 15 years old. Around 3,500 people subscribe to the daily emails; the website receives 5,000 visits a month, with 11,000 page views. Since 2010, more than 50 contributors have published over 2,700 posts. There are currently 20+ regular contributors to the blog, including lawyers, physicians, wealth managers, trust companies, and….

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Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning

Choosing the Right Estate Trustee: When Poor Administration Comes at a Cost

This blog post was written by Mohena Singh, Associate at Fasken LLP. A recent Ontario Superior Court decision, Flowers v. Flowers, 2026 ONSC 3524, serves as a reminder that one of the most important decisions in any estate plan is the selection of an estate trustee. While many testators instinctively appoint a trusted child or family member, the role carries significant legal responsibilities. When those responsibilities are ignored, the consequences….

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Estate Administration, Executors, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee Compensation

Planning for the Long Game: What Happens When Your Executor Becomes Incapable?

This blog has been written by Karen La Caprara, Counsel, at Fasken LLP When contemplating estate planning, it can be easy to focus on a single moment: death. But estate administration does not occur in a moment. It often unfolds over many months, or years, particularly where there is a continuing trust, significant tax work, or illiquid assets. This raises a question that testators can easily overlook at the planning….

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Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Executors, Wills

Qualified Disability Trusts: Some Positive Commentary from the Canada Revenue Agency

This blog has been written by Darren G. Lund, Partner at Fasken LLP Each year in June, the Canadian branch of the Society of Estates and Trusts Practitioners holds its annual conference. One of the most eagerly anticipated sessions each year is the “CRA Roundtable”. At the Roundtable, representatives from the Canada Revenue Agency respond to questions submitted in advance by STEP on a range of tax issues of concern….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Disability, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Tax Issues, Trusts, Wills

Life Insurance & U.S. Citizens

Scotiatrust

When considering life insurance, it’s important to ask: are you a U.S. citizen? The reason for this question is that U.S. citizens who own foreign life insurance policies face a surprisingly complex tax landscape. Unlike domestic policies—which generally enjoy favorable tax deferral and simplified reporting—foreign life insurance contracts (i.e. non-U.S. life insurance) are subject to increased scrutiny, more extensive reporting requirements, and in some cases, U.S. excise taxes. What is….

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Estate Administration, Insurance, Succession Planning, Tax Issues, U.S. Citizen, United States, US Taxes
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