Bozek v. Drongosky: RRIF Beneficiary Designations and Tax Liability

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In Bozek v Drongosky, 2026 ONSC 4245 the Ontario Superior Court considered whether tax obligations imposed under the Deceased’s will in relation to her Registered Retirement Savings Plan (“RRSP”) continued to apply after the RRSP was converted into a Registered Retirement Income Fund (“RRIF”) and a new beneficiary designation was executed. The answer turned on the specific language of the will and the terms of the later RRIF designation, which….

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Uncategorized

U.S. “Clearance Certificate” & Executor’s Personal Liability

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Umbrellas

Canadian advisors are often surprised to learn that a Canadian estate may have U.S. estate tax compliance obligations, even where the deceased was neither a U.S. citizen nor domiciled in the United States. Generally, if a Canadian resident dies owning U.S.-situs assets with a value exceeding US$60,000, the executor must file Form 706-NA. Whether U.S. estate tax is ultimately payable depends on the value of the U.S. assets, the size….

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Estate Administration, Executors, IRS, United States, US Taxes

Thanksgiving – Time to Take Stock About Longevity Planning

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October is the perfect time of year to pause from your busy schedule, be grateful for what you have, and take stock of planning for older family members. As our family and friends gather for Thanksgiving weekend, take some time for yourself and your family. It’s a wonderful time of year in Canada to get outside, explore farmers’ markets, and enjoy the leaves changing in all their glory. And it’s….

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Elder Management, Smart Ageing

Whose Trust Is It Anyway?

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I’ve had several conversations with clients lately about trusts that have given me pause. Some of these discussions have started with a client pulling out a trust deed that was settled years ago, and explaining that circumstances have changed. Family dynamics have shifted and a beneficiary has become estranged, or an excluded family member has come back into the fold. Other times a beneficiary’s circumstances have changed, such that the….

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Estate Planning, Succession Planning, Trusts

Chuck Norris Doesn’t Go Through Probate. Probate Goes Through Chuck Norris.

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Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by: Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust  Who owns the name, the face, and the fake facts now. Chuck Norris doesn’t make a Will. He informs his estate what will happen, and it happens. That was the joke, anyway. The Chuck Norris facts began in the summer of 2005 on a website run by Ian Spector, with the “facts” submitted by visitors, and for twenty years….

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Estate Planning, Property, United States

WHEN A WILL IS DRAFTED AFTER DEATH: LESSONS FROM HENRIKSEN ESTATE

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What happens when a person dies before their will is signed, but their lawyer has already been given clear instructions about what that will was supposed to say? Can a court step in after death and give effect to the deceased’s wishes? The recent decision in Henriksen Estate (Re), 2026 BCSC 1058 raises this unusual question and offers an interesting point of comparison for Ontario practitioners.   A WILL THAT….

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Contested wills, Estate Planning, Uncategorized, Wills
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