International elements add complexity to estate plans
Even as the pandemic rages on, the world has never been smaller than it is now. Technological developments and ease of travel have allowed many of us to make and…
‘First dealings’ probate tax loophole only for those with wills
Big changes could be on the way for Ontario’s estate laws if the provincial government gets its way. The Ford administration recently introduced Bill 245 the Accelerating Access to Justice Act at Queen’s Park.
Eliminate joint-account confusion to avoid estate litigation
Parents could be sowing the seeds of a future estate battle when they set up a joint bank account with a child. There are good estate planning reasons for owning property jointly with a beneficiary – it can be an effective way to transfer funds while avoiding the 1.5 per-cent probate tax otherwise payable on assets in a person’s estate.
Take care when selecting an executor
Administering an estate is no cakewalk, so make sure your choice for executor knows what they’re getting themselves into ahead of time. There is no doubt that the responsibility associated with…
Blended families complicate estate planning
You already know that dying without a will is the safest way to ensure that you have absolutely no options whatsoever as to how your estate is to be divided.…
What are the duties of an executor?
Being appointed executor of an estate is a big job. While the official definition of the role sounds fairly straight-forward — gather up the estate assets, pay the deceased’s debts…
Choose the right executor for your estate
One of the many important decisions you need to make when making a will is choosing an executor for your estate. This is the person who will wind up your…
Professional advice key when leaving gifts to charity
Testators should seek professional advice before leaving gifts to charity, Toronto wills and estates lawyer Lisa Laredo tells AdvocateDaily.com. “Before you do anything, I would recommend consulting a good accountant…
