our 10th year
blog anniversary
Clarence Darrow once said: “Someday I hope to write a book where the royalties will pay for the copies I give away.” Royalties are payments made to the owner of an asset for the right to use that asset, typically being a percentage of the income derived from such use.
If you have assets, prospective beneficiaries, or other connections to foreign countries, you have cross-border or multijurisdictional considerations in your estate planning or administration. Even closer to home, you may encounter the operation of conflicting legal regimes. For this reason, for some purposes, it can be helpful to conceptualize the
Wills can take many forms, for example, Cecil George Harris’s historic will, etched onto a panel of farm machinery under which he was trapped and later succumbed to injury, or the Court of Appeal for Ontario’s 2022 finding that a suicide note was a valid will. While the technical legal
Generations are shaped by the events, technologies, and cultural shifts of their time. As we usher in the new year, we also welcome the start of a new generational cohort, Generation Beta or Gen Beta—those born between 2025 and 2039. They follow Gen Alpha, who were born between 2010 and
Given the absolute importance of ensuring our clients’ final wishes will be properly carried out, and their loved ones properly cared for, estate planning lawyers approach their work with an almost unparalleled level of seriousness and gravity, often leaving very little room for humor to intrude. That is not to
Probate is the often-dreaded process where an estate trustee receives a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee which confirms their authority to administer the estate. While not mandatory, if there is a will, third-party institutions such as banks or the land registry office, when dealing with real property, typically require
When we consider undertaking the estate planning process, the preparation of a Will to direct and manage the transfer of assets between a person and their beneficiaries is often the primary focus. What is not always considered by many is the role proper estate planning plays in the preservation of
When updating your estate plan, it’s important to consider who will be the key decision-makers on death and on incapacity. Understanding these roles can help you prepare better for your future and make informed decisions about your property and personal care. This blog highlights the responsibilities of fiduciaries in the
Commencing with the introduction of registered retirement savings plans (“RRSPs”) in 1957, registered plans have generally become an integral part of the estate planning process. Although registered plans play an important role in both the financial and estate planning of many Canadians, the tax treatment of such plans can vary
On March 14, 1957, the Honourable Walter Harris, Minister of Finance under the Liberal government of Louis St. Laurent, delivered a landmark budget speech to Canada’s House of Commons. Despite John Diefenbaker’s rise to power on June 10, 1957, mere months later, the groundwork was laid for the implementation of