What’s New For 2012? The New Child Support Guidelines Table Amounts
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]February 15, 2012 By Brad Smith The Federal Child Support Guidelines have been in effect since May 1, 1997. The table was amended in May 1, 2006. In 2006 there was, in some situations, a quite dramatic increase in the amount of child support. The tables have been amended once again effective December 31, 2011. There has not […]
Disabled Beneficiaries And Discretionary Trusts
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]January 11, 2012 By Paul Jasiura Do you have disabled children? or grandchildren? or others who are or could potentially become beneficiaries of an interest in your Estate? Are your present plans of Investments and Life Insurance in danger of simply replacing Government Benefits otherwise available to these children or grandchildren? Are you aware of the […]
Registered Disability Savings Plan And Ontario Disability Support Program
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]January 5, 2012 One in every ten Canadian families is affected by a disability. Depending on the nature of the disability and the person’s financial status, he or she may be eligible to receive government assistance to help with various costs of living or even to help with saving for the future. The following are […]
The Mandatory Information Program For Family Law Disputes – What Does It Mean For You?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]September 15, 2011 By Fhara Pottinger The legal system in Canada is designed to deal with property and not people. As a result, family disputes are a poor fit, because even when they appear to be about property, they are mainly about people. In spite of various no fault reforms, emotions tend to run high in […]
What Is A Power Of Attorney For Personal Care And A Power Of Attorney For Property
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]August 15, 2011 A Power of Attorney for Personal Care delegates to your named attorney or attorneys the authority to make decisions regarding your care. Your attorney or attorneys can only exercise the authority under the Power of Attorney for Personal Care if one or more physicians determine that you are no longer capable of […]
Wills: Don’t Wait, Do It Now
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]July 21, 2011 By Brian Babcock Sometimes unexpected illness or declines in mental health occur before you can prepare your will or update it to reflect changes in assets or intentions. More often, however, delay is the result of inattention. The cost of this omission can be expensive court proceedings regarding the estate and unnecessary stress […]
Should I Transfer My House To My Children?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]July 18, 2011 By Brian Babcock This question arises frequently during estate planning, either at a lawyer’s office or while consulting financial planners. There are often good reasons to transfer the house to adult children. This may avoid probate, which both speeds up a sale after death and reduces probate fees (taxes). If the parent is […]
Can Someone With Alzheimer’s Disease Make A Will?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]June 2, 2011 By Brian Babcock There are many good reasons to make your will now, rather than putting it off. Accident and illness generally are always risks, but increasingly, diminished mental capacity is becoming an issue. Although diminished capacity does not necessarily mean incapacity, it can create confusion, increase costs, and increases the risk that […]
The Value of a Trademark
May 3, 2011 By Brian Babcock A 2004 Ontario Court of Appeal decision illustrates the value of trademark registration. Molson Breweries markets an ale called “ Export”. Another brewery, Oland, owned by Labatt’s has also for many years sold ale called “ Export”, previously only in Atlantic Canada. Oland has a registered trademark of its […]
A New Option For Separating Spouses
December 17, 2010 [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] “Love is a feeling, marriage is a contract, and relationships are hard” – Lori Gordon When relationships stop working and that contract needs to be dissolved, there used to be two options – either the parties came to an agreement, which became known as the separation agreement, or everyone went to […]