equalization

The Benefits and Limitations of “Family Law Clauses”

This week’s blog has been written by Darren Lund Estate planning and family law intersect in numerous ways. One of the most obvious intersections between these two areas of law is the so-called “family law clause” that appears in Ontario wills, deeds of gift, and inter vivos trusts. Although the clause is ubiquitous, it is one that is easily misunderstood by lay readers of wills, deeds of gift, and trusts…..

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Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills

Marriage Contracts: Process Over (okay, at least equal to) Substance

This blog has been written by Darren Lund, Partner at Fasken LLP.   In several of my previous blogs, I have written about marriage contracts, and why they are an important element of estate planning. From a substantive perspective, there are many reasons why these agreements are relevant and may be needed to support a comprehensive estate plan.[1] If a family business owner has implemented an estate freeze that includes….

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Estate Planning, Spouse

Newlands Revisited: Moving to the Appeal

This blog has been written by Darren Lund, Partner at Fasken LLP In a previous blog, I wrote about the Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision in Lang-Newlands v Newlands, 2024 ONSC 6285. To briefly summarize, the Newlands case considered a number of issues, but the key issue of interest for estate planners is the court’s analysis of an “estate freeze” transaction that occurred during the parties’ marriage. Barbara and….

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Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Separation, Succession Planning, Trusts, Uncategorized

NEWLANDS: A NEW INTERPRETATION OF ESTATE FREEZES IN THE FAMILY COURTS?

This blog has been written by Darren Lund, Partner at Fasken LLP In Lang-Newlands v. Newlands, 2024 ONSC 6285, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice revisited the treatment of a discretionary family trust in the context of the equalization of net family property under the Ontario Family Law Act. Barbara Lang-Newlands (“Barb”) and Ian Newlands (“Ian”) were married on August 21, 1987 and separated on July 31, 2019. There were….

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Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Separation, Succession Planning, Trusts

Equalizing an Estate Where One of More Children are U.S. Persons and Planning Strategies Where There Are U.S. Beneficiaries; Part II

  Happy Friday, everyone. As a reminder, this is Part II of a three-part blog series. Part I can be found at the following link: Equalizing an Estate Where One of More Children are U.S. Persons and Planning Strategies Where There Are U.S. Beneficiaries; Part I – All About Estates and Part III, to be posted August 30, 2024, will discuss estate planning in circumstances wherein there are U.S. beneficiaries…..

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Estate Planning, Tax Issues, Trusts, U.S. Citizen, United States, US Taxes, Wills

Equalizing an Estate Where One of More Children are U.S. Persons and Planning Strategies Where There Are U.S. Beneficiaries; Part I

In circumstances where clients, who are Canadian residents, intend to equalize their estates amongst their children (“Equalization Intention”) where one or more of such children are “U.S. Persons” (a “U.S. Child”), estate planners need to consider whether that is possible and if so, how (“whether” and “how”, the “Questions”).  This is Part I of a three-Part blog series discussing a few considerations that tax and estate advisors may wish to….

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Estate Planning, Tax Issues, U.S. Citizen, United States, US Taxes, Wills
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