Trustee

Total 148 Posts

Estate Trustees and Costs of Litigation: Try not to take it personally?

In the work I do, I am asked to provide expert testimony to support litigation. In some cases, I am often quite surprised to what extent parties will continue to litigate matters that appear to be “no-wins” or for small dollar amounts. Depending on the circumstances, parties have taken the personal brunt of litigation costs that may far exceed the amount in question, due primarily to their own intransigence. A….

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Attorney Compensation, Contested wills, Costs, Estate Administration, Executors, Family Conflict, Liability, Property, Trustee, Trustee Disputes, Uncategorized, Wills

TFSA’s and Residency

Recently, one of my blog colleagues wrote on the residency rules regarding tax free saving accounts (TFSA’s). Generally, as an owner of TFSA, if you leave Canada, the accumulated funds may remain in the TFSA without Canadian tax consequences. You can’t make any further contributions but you can make withdrawals. What if in a scenario recently presented in a round table discussion with the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”), the CRA….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, Investments, Property, Trustee, Trusts, United States

TRUST REPORTING: NEW REQUIREMENTS COMING SOON!

Under the current rules, a trust only needs to file an annual tax return but generally does not need to file the return if it does not earn an income or make any distributions in the year. (Notwithstanding that the Canada Revenue Agency has increased its demand for “nil returns” to be filed under certain circumstances). Further, there is currently no requirement for the trust to report the specific identity….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, In the News, Tax Issues, Trustee, Trusts, Uncategorized, United States

Gift of securities by executors of a will

The Canada Revenue Agency provided its views regarding the income tax implications of a gift made by executors of an estate of a deceased individual. The taxpayer died in 2016.  His Will named his three sons as equal beneficiaries and co-executors, with no designation of amounts to be given to charitable organizations but giving the co-executors the flexibility to make donations if they wish.  His assets at the time of….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Charitable Giving, Estate Planning, Executors, Tax Issues, Trustee, Uncategorized, Wills

To vary or not to vary

The Canada Revenue Agency recently responded to a ruling request as to whether or not a proposed amendment to a trust agreement could be so significant to cause a resettlement of the trust, or a disposition of a beneficiary’s interest in the trust Before the enactment of variation of trusts legislation, trustees were generally bound to administer the trust according to its terms.  Unless specifically allowed in the trust deed,….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Executors, Tax Issues, Trustee, Trusts

Medical assistance in dying

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was asked whether medical assistance in dying would be considered a medical service for the purpose of the medical expense tax credit (METC).  Not surprising, their answer was yes. In their view, the services for medical assistance in dying are medical services for the purpose of the METC when they are provided by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner as set out in the Criminal….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Elder Care, Executors, Geriatric Care Management, Trustee
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