Introduction When making a Will, one of the most difficult decisions to make is choosing your Executor. The Executor manages the Estate, making sure taxes and other expenses are paid, ensuring the Asset distribution is in accordance with the Will and so forth. The other important decision to make is with respect to the distribution. […]
Introduction It is now common for people to become unable to manage their financial affairs as well as their personal affairs. Whether from age, or medical disorder or other factor(s), it happens often in our Province. Many readers know that there is today insufficient space in care facilities for all the persons who cannot manage […]
Introduction In our society, as people age, daily activities can become more difficult. In some families, children or other trustworthy persons are asked to assist. Responsibility for the payment of bills and expenses may be handed over to those persons. In addition, some people add those assisting persons to their bank accounts, to facilitate the […]
Introduction There are many cases being litigated now in B.C. with respect to Wills. Perhaps the most common case is with respect to variation. Our law has for many years given legal standing to spouses (married and marriage-like) and children (natural and adopted) of a deceased person, to seek a variation of their Will. Generally, […]
Introduction Aretha Franklin was known asThe Queen of Soul. She had an immeasurable impact on American society and perhaps an equally immeasurable impact around theWorld. Some of her songs, including Respect, A NaturalWoman, I Say a Little Prayer, are iconic andmanymore are in the Library of Congress. Ms. Franklin died 5 years ago, at age […]
Introduction Many cases in B.C. are now making their way through the legal system, where variation of a Will are being sought. Our law permits children (natural or adopted) and spouses (married or marriage-like) of a deceased person to seek a variation of a Will, where the person is of the view that they are […]
Introduction Not all Provinces allow for variations of Wills. For example, in Ontario and Alberta, a Will is not subject to variation. It stands as is (with some exceptions), unless it is attacked for other reasons (such as themental capacity of the Testator). In British Columbia, the law is different. Spouses and children of deceased […]
Introduction Years ago, it was not uncommon for parents to transfer title to their homes into their (Adult) childrens’ names. There was a time when the transfer costs were relatively low and there were no significant tax concerns, if at all. Such transfers also reduced the likelihood of having to take a parent’s Will to […]
Introduction We have lost a lot of well known entertainers in the last year. Last January 12th, Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley, died at age 54 from Cardiac arrest. Ms. Presley is survived by 3 children, Riley and Benjamin Keough (she was married to Danny Keough from 1988 through 1994) and […]
The Comedian, Dennis Miller, recently told a story on the radio. Years ago, he was performing in Las Vegas, when he received a dinner invitation from Frank Sinatra. Before they met, Mr. Miller ran into Don Rickles and asked how Mr. Sinatra was doing. Mr. Rickles said that Sinatra was OK, but that “he had Sicilian Alzheimer’s”. Miller […]
