All About Estates

Month: July 2021

Total 23 Posts

Adult Dependent Children: ‘Grown ups’ who need support on a lifelong basis

We are living longer- everyone is.  Over the last few months I have seen an increase in referrals by older adults who are doing their estate planning AND need to  ensure care and financial arrangements are in place for their adult dependent offspring. My legal and trust colleagues can describe…

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Channelling Your Inner J.K. Rowling in Drafting Trustee Resolutions

Today’s blog has been collaboratively written by Corina Weigl and Tamar Silverbrook. The fast paced, (often) time sensitive and adrenaline rushing nature of ‘estate freezes’[1] helps captivate us in the world of trust work.  What is, however, particularly appealing is the ability to be creative. The trust and estate documents…

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The Philanthropist as Villain

Some of the most nefarious villains in popular culture are philanthropists. The fabulous – and fabulously junky – Netflix series Lupin makes it clear. Philanthropists are smiling hypocrites with too much money and no scruples. Evil. In Lupin, the villain that bedevils the titular gentleman thief hero (played by the…

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Changing Beneficiary Designations

Changing a beneficiary designation is as simple as writing it down.

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The medical expense tax credit: COVID-19 tests and vaccines

With the requirements for COVID-19 tests for entry into Canada and vaccines, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was asked to comment on the availability of the medical expense tax credit (METC). Medical expenses which are eligible for the METC are limited to those described in our tax rules. If a…

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Resuming Life in Long Term Care (or least trying)

As of July 7, 2021, Step 2  of the ‘Roadmap to Reopen’, restrictions on visitors to our Long Term Care settings have been opened up. In terms of vaccination requirements, the Ministry have required staff to either: Proof of vaccination Provide a documented medical reason for not being vaccinated Participate…

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Tips on Bringing a Passing of Accounts Application – Part 3

Today’s blog is a continuation of my series[1] on bringing an application to pass accounts (the “Passing Application”).[2]  After the hearing date is set with the court office and the notice of application issued, the next step is to serve the beneficiaries.  The beneficiaries then have an opportunity to review…

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Estate Planning for Eco-Conscious Canadians: Arranging an Eco-Friendly Death

This Blog was written by Lara Besharat   Throughout the last year and a half, the pandemic, and the precarious nature of our collective health, has rested firmly at the forefront of everyone’s minds. This has led to a significant increase in estate planning. However, for many, there is still one…

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Supreme Court of Canada Unseals Sherman Estate Probate Files

On June 11, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada released its highly anticipated decision in Sherman Estate v. Donovan. Background The facts of the case have been widely publicized. Barry and Honey Sherman, a prominent couple, were found dead in their home in December 2017. Their deaths, treated as homicides,…

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Capacity to Marry: Balancing Autonomy with Protection of the Vulnerable

Capacity to marry is often raised in the context of an allegation of a predatory marriage. But what about when the adult children disapprove of the union and devise a scheme to protect their inheritance from the purported “gold digger”? This was the scenario in the case of Tanti v…

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