As part of the estate planning process an assessment ought to made of how the income taxes and other liabilities of the client will be met on his or her passing. Often clients will ask whether any of their family members can become liable for their income taxes and other liabilities on their death. The answer is “yes” a beneficiary of an estate who has received property in priority to the satisfaction of the deceased’s liabilities can be called upon to return property received from the estate. This position is subject to the beneficiary having any equitable defenses available to a claim by a creditor or to any statutory protections available.

The potential pitfalls of using joint ownership of property between parent and adult child as a means of reducing exposure to estate administration tax has received increased attention in recent years, in particular since the Pecore decision. Nevertheless, it is still common (likely the norm) to see parent-adult child joint…