Trusts

Total 214 Posts

Alter Ego Trusts, The Deemed Disposition, and Spousal Rollovers

As a result of changes to the law over the last several years, such as increased reporting requirements during the probate process, the loss of graduate rate taxation for most testamentary trusts, and restrictions on the ability of most trusts to use the principal residence exemption, alter ego trusts may be used more frequently, either to take advantage of a benefit (e.g. the principal residence exemption) or because a former….

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Trusts

GIFTS – Some Additional Thougths

Recently, I wrote about the gifting of cash or assets during one’s lifetime as an alternative method of distributing your wealth (beyond what you need to live on comfortably) and possibly avoid taxes (probate, income etc.) at time of death. I suggested that your heirs could use the funds in a manner that will likely cost less tax: For example pay down some personal debt, apply it as a deposit….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Charitable Giving, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Investments, Joint Tenancy, Loans, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Probate Tax, Property, Real Estate, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized

The Honour of Being Named a Trustee?

When you are appointed to act as a “trustee”, you are being asked to take on the control and management of property, but for the benefit of other persons, called the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are usually family members of the person who established the trust.  The person who established the trust may have done so during their lifetime, in which case they are called the “settlor” and the trust is….

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Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Trustee, Trusts

Valuators – 2018 Might be a Very Good Year

I mentioned in my last blog that the government is proposing measures to limit the application of the lifetime capital gains exemption (“LCGE”) to owners of eligible small business corporations, based on age and “reasonableness”. Subject to certain exceptions, the proposals ensure that property held by a trust will no longer be eligible for the LCGE. Under the current proposals, there are transition rules which will permit a one-time multiplication….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, In the News, Investments, Property, Small Business, Succession Planning, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized

For Whom the Bells Toll: It Tolls for Family Trusts?

As we continue to absorb the draft legislation (together with explanatory notes and consultation paper) introduced by the Department of Finance to overhaul the system of taxation for private companies, some things have are becoming clear. If essentially enacted as currently drafted, the legislation will likely spell the end of family trusts for tax planning arrangements, particularly in the private company setting. Traditionally, for tax planning purposes, family trusts are….

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Business Succession Planning, Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, In the News, Investments, Property, Small Business, Succession Planning, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills

The Principal Residence Exemption: Can you Divide and Conquer?

Recently, the Canada Revenue Agency (‘CRA”) was asked for its opinion on a fact situation with implications on the availability of the principal residence exemption for tax purposes, that I think also has applicability to estate planning in general and to some of the issues one can encounter when trying to divide interests in a property for estate planning purposes in particular. The CRA was provided with the following scenario…..

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Business Succession Planning, Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, In the News, Investments, Property, Real Estate, Small Business, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized
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