Total 678 Posts
This blog was written by Suzanne Singh For several years our company had been “D’s” appointed attorney under her POA. Up until her late-eighties D was independent and occasionally took a bus downtown to drop by our office to invite me for coffee; she would share stories of her youth in rural Ontario and her adventures as a young married woman in post-WWII era Winnipeg. She was charismatic and engaging….
Things Left Behind Continue Reading »
UncategorizedToday’s blog was written by Courtney Lanthier, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP With winter sneaking up on us (rather quickly, I might add) and the travel bans slowly being lifted, we’re bound to get an influx of calls and e-mails from clients wanting to update their estate plans or check in to make sure everything is as it should be. If you find yourself in this situation, here are a….
Think about your Estate Plan before you travel… Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, Uncategorized“Name That Charity” sounds like a failed 1960s game show. Instead, it is an approach to estate planning that paradoxically may discourage charitable giving. This is an observation made by Kathy Hawkesworth of the Edmonton Community Foundation in a recent presentation to the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioner (STEP). Kathy’s point is financial advisors and estate lawyers often put their clients on the spot. Do they have charitable interests?….
Name That Charity! Continue Reading »
Charitable Giving, Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, UncategorizedIn a Will challenge proceeding, the Court in Lugarich v. Fabris, 2021 ONSC 7294, considered the interlocutory issue of whether to authorize the estate trustee appointed pursuant to the challenged Will to complete the sale of a residential property, or whether an estate trustee during litigation should be appointed to close the transaction. The Facts: The Deceased died on December 6, 2019, leaving a Last Will and Testament dated November….
The Sale Must Close Continue Reading »
UncategorizedDo digital assets e.g. cryptocurrencies (such as bitcoin, ethereum) non-fungible tokens, qualify as investments in deferred tax vehicles such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP’s), Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA’s), Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP’s) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (“RDSP’s). The simple answer is no and maybe. This issue came to my attention recently when a client asked me to assist him with a formal request to reverse a….
Digital Assets and RRSP’s, TFSA’s, RESP’s, etc Continue Reading »
Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, In the News, Investments, RESP, RRSP, Tax Issues, UncategorizedToday’s blog was written by Sandra Arsenault, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP “Change is the only constant” – Heraclitus. How is it possible that in one of the most traditional areas of law we are about to see even more big changes come into effect? Just as we get used to virtual witnessing, digital signatures, email service of documents, small estates certificates and e-filing, the Rules are literally changing again…..
Surprise…More Big Changes Coming to Estate Administration Continue Reading »
Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Uncategorized