Family Conflict

Total 257 Posts

Privacy, the Rule of Law, and Apotex Inc.

The “rule of law” is a defining feature of western democracies. Briefly described, it is the insistence that all government action be based in law, and is contrasted with acts of tyranny, dictatorship, and arbitrary exercises of power. The central role that the rule of law plays in Canadian society is most clearly seen in the one-sentence preamble to the Constitution Act, 1982: “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that….

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Capacity Law, Estate Litigation, Family Conflict, Guardianship, In the News, Interest

Death and TOSI Part 2: Spouses

My past two blogs have looked at the December 13, 2017 draft legislation that amends and expands the tax on split income (“TOSI”) rules. In my last blog I outlined some of the special rules that apply (in the context of TOSI) to income and gains on property that is acquired as a consequence of death. A further special rule relates specifically to spouses. If an amount qualifies as an….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Tax Issues

Safe Space: Governance in Action

For most businesses they evaluate their success by quarters or perhaps terms described as “short”, “medium” and “long”. For a family business, they measure success by ensuring the company is preserved for the next generation and beyond.  And despite the statistics which suggest that successfully transitioning a family business to the next generation is elusive, the goal for a large proportion of family businesses still is to transition the business….

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Business Succession Planning, Family Conflict, Small Business, Tax Issues

Capacity Evaluation of an Expressed Choice

In law, expressed choices are not necessarily a reflection of capable decision making. For example, regarding testamentary capacity, the Ontario Court of Appeal in Hall v. Bennett Estate (2003)[i] stated in paragraphs 15 and 16 that it is not sufficient simply to show that a testator had the capacity to communicate his or her testamentary wishes. Those wishes must be shown to be the product of a sound and disposing….

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Capacity Law, Elder Care, Elder Law, Family Conflict, Guardianship, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Spouse

Sibling Rivalry Over Mother’s Competency

In 2009, Hermine Wekerle, mother of financier and Dragon’s Den star, Michael Wekerle, signed an unconditional power of attorney for property giving one of her three daughters, Caron, authority to be her substitute decision-maker. In 2016, acting under the power of attorney for property, Caron agreed to sell a little old chapel on Yonge Street in Thornhill, Ontario, which was purchased by Hermine’s late husband, Anthony Wekerle, in 1994 for….

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Family Conflict, Power of Attorney

Some American Thanksgivng Day Advice

I love the traditions of the American Thanksgiving Day holiday – spending time with family and friends, enjoying a great food and watching football. In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, the American papers are filled with all kinds of tips on how to prepare for and enjoy the big day. Whether folks are battling chaos at the airport trying to get home or struggling to defrost a turkey in record time,….

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Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Uncategorized
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