What You Need To Know About “Probate Taxes”
July 22, 2020 By Margaret Waddington The Basics: First and foremost what used to be called “Letters Probate” is now called a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee with a Will (or Without a Will) and the former “Probate Tax” is now called the Estate Administration Tax. The Estate Administration Tax is only paid when […]
Changes To Odsp Allows For More Freedom In Long-term Planning For A Loved One Living With A Disability
July 25, 2018 By Paul Jasiura Estate planning provides you with the opportunity to ensure your loved ones are taken care of in the long term. However, when a loved one is living with a disability, and is receiving income support from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), proper estate planning is even more essential to […]
Beware The Will-Kit Part II: Powers Of Attorney
June 15, 2017 In my first post, “Beware the Will-Kit: The Costly Consequences of a $9.99 Will“, I discussed the importance of a lawyer-made Will. The same principle applies, if not more so, to Powers of Attorney. Similar to Wills, there are very specific legislative requirements as to the proper execution of Powers of Attorney, and […]
Beware The Will-Kit: The Costly Consequences Of A $9.99 Will
April 19, 2017 Why would you go to a lawyer to draft your Will, when you can create a “Do-It-Yourself” document at home for less than ten dollars? The simple answer is that the modest out-of-pocket expense now could save you and your Estate thousands of dollars in the long run. Beyond the financial consideration, […]
Trustee Tip
January 9, 2017 The Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Cahill v. Cahill demonstrates several valuable lessons for those who agree to be an executor or trustee. The facts in Cahill probably represent a common scenario. Through his Last Will and Testament, a father appointed his son and daughter as executors. The Will required a trust to […]
Family Feuds And Estate Mediation: Serious Problem Meets Possible Solution
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]July 15, 2015 By Fhara Pottinger Is your family on the verge of a serious breakdown due to events that came out of someone’s Will or Power of Attorney? Are people taking sides? Have conversations become screaming matches? Has everyone descended into a tense silence? You may be in the midst of an Estate dispute. Disputes […]
Straight Talk About Estate Planning – Honesty And Your Lawyer
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]January 20, 2015 By Fhara Pottinger One of my greatest challenges as a lawyer is ensuring that my client has told me everything that I need to know. My clients are generally not holding back out of malice or some intention to deceive me but rather a desire not to “waste my time”, to keep their […]
Straight Talk About Estate Planning For Pets
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]October 17, 2014 By Fhara Pottinger For many of us, pets are beloved members of the family. Unfortunately, anyone who has worked in animal rescue can tell you that far too many beloved family pets end up abandoned and in shelters after their owner dies. If that pet is older or requires any form of medical […]
Beneficiaries: Protecting Your Benefits
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]July 2, 2014 By Paul Jasiura Beneficiaries under the Will of a friend or relative often anticipate that they will receive their inheritance very shortly after the death, and are disappointed or annoyed by how long it is taking for the estate trustee to send the cheque. They then ask us what they can do to […]
Straight Talk About Wills
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]May 26, 2014 By Fhara Pottinger You’ve been meaning to do it for ages. Get a Will. Perhaps some Powers of Attorney as well. It ends up on your “to do” list many times, often for several years. But finally, now is the time, you are going to get it done. The appointment is made and […]