Estate Debate | Estate Planning Executor Resources

James Brown’s Estate Executor Resigns

Estate Debate™ — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:58:43 +0000

The resignation of one of singing legend James Brown’s executors demonstrates the risk that executors can be faced with when administering an estate.Executors may deal with complicated family dynamics and feuding beneficiaries, and may be the target of allegations by unhappy family members.

The estate executor for singing legend James Brown resigns.

Full story at CBC.ca.

Estate Planning Using a Trust

Estate Debate™ — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:25:27 +0000

Many Canadian couples will die with a net worth of more than $1-million, and it is important to properly plan for the distribution of this wealth. Problems can arise when there is a bequest of property to feuding siblings, money left to a dependant or disabled child, or attempts are made to protect inheritances from a child’s spouse. A testamentary trust may provide a solution to such issues.

Image courtesy of http://www.nationalpost.com

Full story at National Post.

Attempting Elder Care Alone Can Lead to Caregiver Burnout

Estate Debate™ — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:57:36 +0000

When a loved one reaches a point that they are no longer able to care for themselves, their care may become the responsibility of a relative. It is important that a balance is struck between the life of the senior and that of the caregiver. The Vancouver Sun outlines one family’s story about caring for an elderly family member, and describes the strain that such a role can have on a marriage, job and relationships with friends and other family members. Ensuring that care is divided amongst siblings, finances are in place and resources such as senior planning consultants are utilized may help ease the transition.

Full story at Vancouver Sun.

Discuss Beneficiaries’ Desire to Inherit Property When Planning Your Will

Estate Debate™ — Mon, 13 May 2013 03:40:39 +0000

Image courtesy of http://www.globeandmail.com.

Tim Cestnick from the Globe and Mail discusses the importance of talking to your children about their interest and desire to inherit property in a will or estate.Questions like: Do they want to own it? Will they use it as much as you? Do they have a desire to be part of the community where that property is located? All are important things to consider when planning your will.

Full story at Globe and Mail.

Executors or Beneficiaries of Literary Estates

Estate Debate™ — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:31:45 +0000

If a loved one is an author, his or her beneficiaries may inherit the copyrights to their written works.In estate law, an estate dissolves after its assets have been administered. But what happens if one has been named the “literary” executor of an estate, or has been bequested the copyrights to literary works of the deceased? Rich Stim of Dear Rich discusses what the options are for those who have inherited rights to a famous author’s works.

Full story at Dear Rich: Nolo’s Intellectual Property Blog.

Executors Can Face Legal Liability From Errors, Omissions or Fraud

Estate Debate™ — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:02:06 +0000

Jacquie McNish and Paul Waldie from the Globe and Mail review several large estate fraud cases and the tragic outcomes they had on the families left behind.Accepting the responsibility of being an executor comes with great obligation and risk. As an executor you are entrusted to protect the estate. Even the best-intentioned executors can make errors or omissions and be held legally liable for their actions.

Full story at Globe and Mail.

Problems for the Elderly in Hospitals

Estate Debate™ — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:21:12 +0000

Many seniors end up in acute-care beds in hospitals and may find their chronic health issues are mishandled, leading to their placement in a nursing home. In order to stave off the complications that can arise for elderly patients while in hospital, two Toronto geriatricians are planning to implement a new emergency room program to screen incoming seniors. They believe that properly understanding who their patients are is the key to preventing readmission to hospitals, thus minimizing the amount of mobile and independent seniors being sent to nursing homes.

Full story at Globe and Mail.

Watch this video, “The Long Good-Bye,” also from Globe and Mail.

Learn about how new #elder screening program can reduce #seniors in nursing homes http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/dementia/effective-elder-care-starts-at-home-experts-say/article1958956/ from @GlobeandMail

Court Sends Message About Hiding From Dependants

Ian Hull — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:20:06 +0000

“It comes down to if you’re not going to carefully consider who you owe financial consideration to upon death, then the court is going to do it for you.” says Ian Hull in commenting on the impact of the court’s recent decision in Stevens vs. Fischer

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Google Develops ‘Digital Will’

Estate Debate™ — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:22:19 +0000

Google has a way to ensure your data dies when you do.

The international tech giant, best known for its much-used search engine, has launched an Inactivity Account Manager, a “digital will” of sorts that allows users to determine what to do with their online “digital assets” once it’s no longer needed.

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When an Executor Declines

Estate Debate™ — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:14:56 +0000

In this Advisor’s Edge article by John Lorinc prominent Canadian financial planners and estate lawyers discuss the importance of appointing an appropriate executor and the risks associated with the role.

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