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Bare Trusts and New Reporting Rules
With limited exceptions, starting with the 2023 tax year, the trust reporting rules in Canada have expanded to capture bare trust...
Heather Marshall
Oct 20, 20233 min read
446 views
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City of Toronto Vacant Home Tax – Have You Declared Your Property’s 2022 Occupancy Status?
In 2021, the City of Toronto introduced an annual tax on vacant residential properties with the stated goal of increasing the City’s...
Heather Marshall
Dec 31, 20222 min read
187 views
1 comment


The Challenge of Dealing with Personal Effects
A recent article published in the Globe and Mail* estimates that over the next 10 years, Canadians will inherit an estimated One Trillion...
Heather Marshall
Dec 3, 20224 min read
228 views
0 comments


Prescribed Rate Loans for Income Splitting – Lock in the Rate Before July 1, 2022!
The Canadian income tax system uses the individual as the tax unit rather than the family. In many cases, this results in unequal tax...
Heather Marshall
Jun 5, 20222 min read
77 views
0 comments


10 Lessons Learned in 2021
2021 was one of the busiest years for me professionally. As we head into the New Year, I want to take a moment to review some of the...
Heather Marshall
Dec 31, 20215 min read
148 views
0 comments


Proving the Validity of a Signature on a Will
In Ontario, there are certain formalities that must be followed for a Will to be validly executed: (1) the testator (Will signer) must...
Heather Marshall
Sep 27, 20212 min read
1,738 views
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Changes to Ontario's Estates Laws
Back in February, I wrote about changes to the Estates Act and the Rules of Civil Procedure which established a simplified probate...
Heather Marshall
Jun 19, 20213 min read
164 views
0 comments


Welcome Changes to Ontario’s Probate Process for Small Estates
The Ontario government has introduced the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act, 2020 (the “Justice Act”), which amends more than twenty...
Heather Marshall
Feb 22, 20212 min read
132 views
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Can You Rely on a Condominium Status Certificate?
A condominium status certificate is a snapshot of the status of the condominium unit(s) you have agreed to (conditionally) purchase and...
Heather Marshall
Sep 24, 20204 min read
219 views
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Are Two Wills Better than One?
This blog post will focus on Estate Administration Tax (“EAT”) and a commonly used planning strategy to reduce the amount of EAT payable.
Heather Marshall
Jun 13, 20203 min read
418 views
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Virtual Witnessing of Wills and Powers of Attorney
Virtual Will Signings are Temporarily Legal - Wills and Powers of Attorney during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Heather Marshall
Apr 12, 20202 min read
80 views
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What Do You Do When You Can't Find The Original Will
When a loved one passes away, the family has the inevitable task of dealing with the deceased’s affairs and administering their estate....
Heather Marshall
Mar 2, 20202 min read
1,011 views
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10 Things You Should Do Before Year End
The end of the year is a good time to get your affairs in order. Here’s a list of 10 items you should consider as we head into 2020:...
Heather Marshall
Dec 19, 20193 min read
82 views
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To Elect or Not to Elect?
As a general rule, in Ontario, we have “testamentary freedom” or the autonomy to distribute our assets as we wish. I say, as a general...
Heather Marshall
Nov 30, 20194 min read
185 views
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Trusts for Children
A common concern I hear from clients with young children is how to protect their children’s inheritances. The best way to protect assets...
Heather Marshall
Aug 29, 20193 min read
74 views
0 comments


Are You Buying Real Estate from a Non-Resident? Buyer Beware!
When shopping for a home or investment property, buyers don’t often give much thought to whom they are buying from. This month’s blog...
Heather Marshall
Mar 29, 20194 min read
640 views
0 comments


Beneficiary Designations: Mistakes to Avoid
Here is a typical scenario: You attend at your bank to set up a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or a Tax Free Savings Account...
Heather Marshall
Feb 21, 20196 min read
552 views
0 comments


Powers of Attorney: What The Heck Are They and Why Do You Need Them?
A power of attorney is a legal document by which you (called the “grantor”) appoint a person or persons (the “attorney”) to make...
Heather Marshall
Dec 21, 20183 min read
59 views
0 comments


Thinking of Getting in on the Red Hot Condo Market by Buying Pre-Construction? Here’s What To Know
According to Altus Group, which collects data on the construction sector, builders sold 36,429 new condo units in 2017, smashing the...
Heather Marshall
Nov 1, 20184 min read
21 views
0 comments


10 Consequences of Dying without a Will
In my last blog post, I discussed the reasons why parents of young children need to have valid Wills in place. While it is true that...
Heather Marshall
Sep 27, 20184 min read
51 views
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