One of the joys of estate planning in Canada is that the law varies from province to province. Most of the country follows common law and we in Quebec follow the civil code. For those of you working outside of Quebec, you may encounter clients with assets in Quebec. With…
For some, collecting is a way of life. Unique legal and practical issues arise for an executor when an estate includes a collection. In this article, I explore some of those issues when dealing with collections of fine wine, cultural artifacts, and firearms. Wine During COVID, the Ontario government…
As the holiday season approaches, our thoughts naturally turn to gift-giving, festive gatherings, and the joy of spending time with loved ones. Amidst the holiday cheer, it is important to recognize the profound gift of peace of mind that comes with a well-considered estate and trust plan. While estate…
In Ontario, Bill 245, a large omnibus Bill, the Accelerating Access to Justice Act 2021 (AAJA) received Royal assent on April 19, 2021. It made amendments to many Ontario statutes. Schedule 9 of this Act made significant changes to the Succession Law Reform Act, R. S.O. 1990, c.S. 26 (SLRA)…
Today’s post was written by Diana Leopardi – Estate and Trust Consultant at Scotiatrust. What can be worse than having a Will that does not reflect your wealth transfer wishes…that is, not having a Will at all! Suppose you have a Will in place, it is prudent to ensure that…
This post is written by Alicia Mossington, Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotiatrust. Individuals have considerable testamentary freedom in Ontario (and other provinces). The ability to distribute an estate how you choose, is a common law principle that is deeply entrenched. In Ontario, and most provinces, the court has limited…
THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN BY ANTHONY PRANATA, ESTATE & TRUST CONSULTANT, SCOTIA WEALTH MANAGEMENT What is harder than being the executor of an estate? Being the executor of two estates simultaneously. If you are thinking there is no way this would happen to you as long as you are…
This Blog was written by Emily Racine, Estate and Trust Consultant with Scotia Wealth Management Estate planning is a complex and emotional process under the best of times. Adding on the natural intricacies that accompany mixed families and second marriages only further adds to these emotional complexities. While it is…
This Blog was written by: Taylor Sergeant When I read about this famous case out of Saskatchewan it immediately spoke to me: my father is a farmer, and anytime I hear anything about tractors or farming, my ears perk up, and I am always immediately interested. The facts: June 8,…
This Blog was written by: Alicia Mossington (Godin), Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotia Wealth Management What happens if a beneficiary believes that a trustee is acting improperly, or refuses to distribute funds? United States Senator Dianne Feinstein is suing the trustees of a fund set up by her late husband,…