Blog
Celebrating
our 10th year
blog anniversary
Blog
Toronto Ontario Estate Law Blog
An Elegy to 2020
As we wind down this most unprecedented, uncharted, and unreal year in memory, it might be a good time to reflect on some important truths and essentials as 2021 is on our doorstep, but with hope now in sight as the vaccines start to roll out. The COVID-19 pandemic has
An Update on Virtual Witnessing and Electronic Wills
One of the most common questions our clients ask is whether they can sign their Wills and Powers of Attorney with an electronic signature. Our lives are getting busier, our goal of reducing paper waste is more focused, and clients are understandably questioning the historically strict formalities of executing estate
Beneficiary Designations on Separation and Divorce: Your Ex May Take More than the Couch
When major life events occur, it is important to consider your estate planning and what updates and changes must be done. In no circumstances is this more true than when a person gets married, separated or divorced. Each of these life events affects a person’s estate plan in different ways.
5 Misconceptions About Appointing U.S. Persons as Executors
Many people think that they can’t appoint a family member (often their child residing in the U.S.) or friend who is a U.S. resident or citizen as the executor of their estate because it will cause too many complications, or perhaps they may have received advice from a source that
Should Canada Have a Wealth Tax: Lessons Learned
In my prior blog of March 3, 2020, “Inheritance Tax, Wealth Tax and More Capital Gains Tax: The Future of Canadian Taxation”, I raised the issue of whether new forms of tax might be introduced on the Canadian scene, including an inheritance tax or an annual wealth tax. My blog
“That’s It – We’re Moving to Canada!” Leaving Assets Abroad: Estate Administration Issues
A few weeks ago, Google reported an increase in the number of searches on how to apply for Canadian residency and citizenship. Surprisingly, these numbers may not just be from our friends south of the border: in 2019, Canada welcomed over 284,000 people worldwide. This statistic is not unique to
Prescribed Interest Rate Loans: Saving Tax Dollars by Using the Prescribed Interest Rate
Income tax matters and Canada Revenue Agency publications are often viewed as dull until they directly apply to our own situation. This is likely true for most people in respect of the prescribed interest rate. However, the prescribed interest rate can be of benefit to you, especially since it has
LIVE WEBINAR: It’s Complicated: Solutions for Planning and Administering an Estate with Foreign Connections
Are you (or your clients) making estate plans or administering an estate that involves one or more countries? Will you (or your clients) inherit property in England? Do you (or your clients) own a second property in Portugal or Italy? Do you have clients who moved to France, but have left assets in Canada?
Are Your U.S. Securities Giving You the Security You Thought?
Canadians who own U.S. securities may be surprised to find out that their investments may be exposing themselves to a tax as high as 40% on death. Without proper planning, an individual’s U.S. investments may be subject to U.S. estate tax, which will not provide the anticipated or desired result.
Who’s in Charge? Key Considerations in Choosing Your Executors
Who will be in charge of executing your will is one of the most important decisions to make in the estate planning process. People often only consider close family members, but they may not always be the best choice. Here are some key considerations. An executor must be at least the
Download our “Passing Wealth Well” e-brochure
Learn more about:
- Estate planning for High Net Worth
- Cross-border and multijurisdictional matters
- Incapacity planning
- Representative mandates from clients
- And more…