November is Make a Will month. It is reported that more than 55% of Canadians are without a Will. Still, it is a must-have for anyone with property or assets. While a Will may anchor an estate plan, it is only executed when you pass away. Even more compelling is…
A Will in every Port The laws of succession, probate, and property differ from country to country, state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. As such, a prudent testator should consider having a Will in every jurisdiction where they own property. Certainly, there are methods by which a domestic Will…
One of the responsibilities of an executor is to deal with the final tax return of the deceased and file the tax returns for the estate. Most tax deadlines are statutory (established in the Income Tax Act) therefore, they are non-negotiable. The executor should consult a tax advisor early to…
This blog has been written by Sandra Arsenault, Law Clerk at Fasken LLP. A Season of Beginnings, Endings, and Books As the leaves change and the weather cools, I imagine curling up in a cozy spot with a hot beverage and a new book. Autumn is when we salute the…
If I were administering Taylor Swift’s estate, I would have to continuously monitor her trademarked lyrics “This sick beat”, “Party like it’s 1989” and “Cause we never go out of style”, amongst others. Generally, artistic works involve copyright to protect it from being used and sold by others. But, as…
As many of our readers may know, estate trustees have a duty to account to the beneficiaries of an estate for the property they administer. Beneficiaries are entitled to be kept informed and can reasonably expect transparency and communication from the estate trustee in this regard. Oftentimes, an estate trustee…
This is Part III of a three-part blog series. Parts I & II can be found at the following respective links: https://www.allaboutestates.ca/equalizing-an-estate-where-one-of-more-children-are-u-s-persons-and-planning-strategies-where-there-are-u-s-beneficiaries-part-i/ and https://www.allaboutestates.ca/equalizing-an-estate-where-one-of-more-children-are-u-s-persons-and-planning-strategies-where-there-are-u-s-beneficiaries-part-ii/. Parts I & II discussed a few issues to consider if a client’s intention is to equalize their estate amongst their children where one or more…
One of the main duties of an executor is to distribute the assets of an estate according to the terms of the Will. Typically, it is easy to pay a cash legacy to a beneficiary or to deliver a specific bequest if the beneficiary lives nearby. But what happens if…
Andrew Coates, Associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Betty Laidlaw contributed an informative two-part series in 2023 regarding “What Happens If Something Happens to Your Executor?” In the second part, Betty explained the process for the alternate executor named in a Will making an application for a Certificate of Appointment of…
This blog has been written by Sandra Arsenault, Law Clerk at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP No, you likely did not. Most people don’t apply to become an executor of an estate. An executor is responsible for administering the estate of a deceased person from the date of death until all…