our 10th year
blog anniversary
Increasingly, people and their assets have connections to several jurisdictions, rather than just one as in times past. Over the course of a lifetime, many of us will leave a trail behind us of real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement savings plans and pensions, as well as beneficiaries and
Many of you have a power of attorney for personal care if you live in Ontario, or a similar document if you reside in another jurisdiction. Its purpose is to appoint one or more persons to make personal care decisions on your behalf when you no longer have the capacity
For almost two years now, the prescribed rate under the Income Tax Act has been at an all-time low of 1%. This low rate has made using a family trust or spousal loan to split income with minor children, grandchildren and a spouse very attractive – which is in contrast
Proposals Galore in Congress in Fall 2021 The U.S. Congress was very busy throughout the Fall of 2021, and it was very challenging for advisors and their clients to keep up with a number of proposals dealing with trusts, how they are taxed, and their rates of tax, other estate
Preparing a Power of Attorney for Personal Care is a critical part of your estate plan. It offers the ability to choose one or more family members or others who will make personal care decisions for you when you do not have the capacity to do so. A Power of
It is likely an understatement that worldwide there is a sense of trepidation among taxpayers on what measures governments will take to raise tax revenues to pay for the pandemic, and as well to respond to increasing wealth inequality, which the pandemic has exacerbated. A brief survey of what governments
It is now the height of summer, and a good time to take a breath and reflect a bit before the hurly burly of the fall descends upon us. And so, I turn to the topic of the importance of integrity in providing trust and estate advice. What do we
For more than a year now, our client meetings have not been in-person, but instead virtual through video conferences. At first, we were enamoured at the novelty of this new way of interfacing with our clients. As time has marched on, we have gained new perspectives on some of the
If you take on the role of executor, trustee, or attorney for property, it is important to understand you will be acting as a fiduciary. Each of these roles is defined by a distinct set of legal principles and rules which constitute fiduciary law. They require that you adopt a
What are some of the trips and traps to be aware of from an estate planning viewpoint if you are a Canadian, but you have assets or other connections south of the border? In this blog, I will give a few concrete examples drawn from my experience of the problems