Criteria for a VD to be Valid

For a voluntary disclosure to be valid, it must meet certain specific criteria.  If the taxpayer fails to meet any of these criteria, the voluntary disclosure will be considered potentially invalid resulting in penalties and prosecution.
The CRA is unequivocal that a valid voluntary disclosure must be

(1) voluntary,
(2) complete,
(3) involve a monetary penalty, and
(4) involve information that is one year or more overdue.

Timing

Timing is crucial when filing a voluntary disclosure.  The CRA and the jurisprudence are clear: a disclosure may not qualify as a voluntary disclosure if it is found to have been made with the knowledge of an audit, investigation or other enforcement action that has been initiated by the CRA or other authorities or an administration with which the CRA has information exchange agreements.
It is crucial that the taxpayer be unaware of any audit, investigation or enforcement procedure when filing a voluntary disclosure. This means that if there is any direct contact by the CRA (such as a telephone call from a CRA agent or receiving a letter or a requirement to file from the Agency), the voluntary disclosure will be denied on the basis that it is not voluntary.
Furthermore, if a third party closely associated with the taxpayer receives a communication from the Agency or if any enforcement action against that third party is initiated and such action is sufficiently related to the taxpayer in the eyes of the CRA, the taxpayer’s voluntary disclosure may be denied on the basis it is not voluntary.

Completeness

The CRA is unequivocal that the taxpayer must provide full and accurate facts and documentation for all taxation years where there was previously inaccurate, incomplete or unreported information.  In most instances, the agent reviewing the voluntary disclosure will most likely request additional specific documents or information corroborating the initial application.
Should the taxpayer fail to provide the information requested, or should the facts in the initial application not withstand the scrutiny of the CRA, the voluntary disclosure will likely be denied.
As is always the case in tax matters, the onus of proof lies with the taxpayer. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to prove that the information submitted provides a complete and accurate account of the facts involved.
However, it is worth noting that minor errors or omissions shall not disqualify the disclosure. Further, the CRA clearly states that each submission will be reviewed on its own merits.

Monetary Penalty

Another criterion is the obligation that the voluntary disclosure must involve the application, or potential application, of a monetary penalty.  There are different reasons as to why a penalty would be levied (such as a late filing penalty, a failure to remit penalty, an installment penalty or a discretionary penalty) but in order for a voluntary disclosure to be valid, it must involve a monetary penalty applying to one reporting period.

One Year Past Due

The last criterion for a valid disclosure is that it must include information that is (1) at least one year past due, or (2) the disclosure is to correct a previously filed return.

10 Year Limitation

CRA will only grant penalty relief for a period of 10 years.  (§220(3.1) of the Income Tax Act was amended in 2004 to only provide relief for a period of 10 years prior to the application for relief of interest and penalties).
This is quite unfortunate as a taxpayer that would like to rectify past filings must take into consideration this 10 year limit.  Indeed, should a taxpayer opt to file a disclosure concerning taxation years dating back more than 10 years from the application, they run the risk of being liable for penalties.
CRA does not advertise such a limitation period and this further emphasises the importance of seeking professional assistance prior to proceeding with a voluntary disclosure.

Conclusion

The VDP is worthy of consideration by any taxpayer that wishes to rectify a previous filing and avoid any penalties or prosecution.
However, the criteria of a valid voluntary disclosure are precise and one should always seek professional assistance given the significant risks that an invalid application may invoke.
Should you be interested in proceeding by way of a voluntary disclosure, Tierney Stauffer LLP would be glad to assist and advise you.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sébastien Desmarais
LL.B., LL.L., J.D.
Lawyer, Tierney Stauffer LLP
This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship.

In recent years tax professionals have noticed an increase in CRA’s use of net worth audits against taxpayers. The CRA appears to be targeting their net worth audits to cash-based businesses, owner-manager businesses and illegal businesses (such as drug dealers).

The following will attempt to answer two primary questions, first, what is a net worth audit and second, what is the burden on a taxpayer faced with a net worth audit.

What is a Net Worth Audit?

A net worth audit is a two-step audit by the CRA. First, the Agency will look at the taxpayer’s assets and liabilities at the beginning and end of the tax year and determine the increase and/or decrease in the taxpayer’s net worth. Second, the CRA will review the taxpayer’s expenditures for that same tax year and compare them with standards of expenditures according to Statistics Canada.

The net worth method relies on the concept that when a taxpayer accumulates wealth during a tax year, he shall either invest it or spend it. For an auditor conducting a net worth audit, they will consider an increase in the taxpayer’s net worth throughout the year as taxable income. From that starting point, the auditor will add all non-deductible expenditures to the taxpayer’s net worth and then compare the taxpayer’s net worth at the beginning of the taxation year and the taxpayer’s net worth at the end of the taxation year. Any increase in the taxpayer’s net worth will be considered income for tax purposes.

Interestingly, at the audit stage, the CRA has essentially free reign in their assessment and interpretation of the taxpayer’s net worth. Indeed, CRA may assume facts or use general statistics from Statistic Canada in their assessment; in most instances, to the taxpayer’s detriment.

Burden is on the Taxpayer

It is important to understand that because the Canadian tax system is a self-assessing system, the onus is on the taxpayer to rebut all of the Minister’s assumptions and findings.

The Courts have consistently taken the view that once CRA issues a reassessment based on a net worth audit, the taxpayer must rebut all of CRA’s assumptions and findings by either:

Challenging whether the net worth assessment is needed or is the most appropriate method of computing the taxpayer’s income; or

Challenging every specific aspect of the net worth assessment calculations.

In the context of a net worth audit, the taxpayer’s onus of proof is a considerable one. Indeed, in most net worth audits, the auditor will have requested all available taxpayer records including, but not limited to, a list of all inventories, physical assets, debts to creditors, bank records, securities, and any other statements of assets.

From the documentation provided, the auditor may have interpreted some book entries and assume facts that may not be accurate, however, the onus is on the taxpayer to provide proof to clarify, explain and rebut all of the auditor’s assumptions and interpretation of facts.

When combating a net worth audit, the devil is in the details. Every item, interpretation and assumption of the auditor must be analyzed in great detail and dissected for correctness.

Indeed, with every error found, the trustworthiness of this inherently untrustworthy method is called further into question.

If the matter is to proceed before the Tax Court of Canada, pointing out the auditor’s errors in their interpretation shall contribute to discrediting the auditor’s findings and tilt the judge’s opinion in favor of the taxpayer. However, the taxpayer will also need to provide evidence explaining and clarifying the increase in his net worth over the year.

A valid explanation, such as the receipt of an inheritance, will undoubtly favor the taxpayer in his pursuit of rebutting the auditor’s finding. However, if the taxpayer lacks any evidentiary documentation attesting his point then the matter becomes one of credibility; something a taxpayer should always avoid.

Conclusion

Maintaining well-organized documents and financial records is truly the sole solution for succeeding over a net worth audit. Indeed, documenting all receipts of significant funds received during the taxation year, especially any foreign funds, is the very best way to beat a net worth audit.

My former colleague Arthur Drache once wrote: “good paper almost always will prevail, but in a contest of your unsupported word against CRA, you’ll almost always lose.” This remains the gold standard in a net worth audit.

 If you are the subject of a net worth audit, we highly recommend you consult with your accountant and lawyer. Tierney Stauffer LLP would be glad to assist and advise you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sébastien Desmarais
LL.B., LL.L., J.D.
Lawyer, Tierney Stauffer LLP
This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. 

The importance of having a  succession plan should not be overlooked. Having a plan in place will help ease the transfer of a business from one owner to another, manage expectations of family members, employees,  managers and business partners who may desire ownership of the business, thereby helping  departing business owners preserve their relationships with these individuals and maximize the net financial return from your business. Placing your business in the hands of another takes time to orchestrate and can raise many issues, including properly valuating your business, assessing tax implications and estate planning issues, and training your successor. Therefore, it is important to begin succession planning early.

When planning the succession of your business, there are a number of options to consider, such as transferring the business to a family member or an employee, manager or partner of the business or selling the business to an unrelated third party. In addition to deciding how your business will be passed on to a new owner, there are a number of other elements which should be considered. Th e following list sets out a few of these items, but should not be considered an exhaustive list.

Choose your Successor

If you wish to keep the business in the family, you will need to determine if this is a viable option. The key question for you to consider is whether there is someone in your family who is interested in owning the business and who has the necessary skill set for running the business? This can be a very difficult element as you will often have a family member who has the interest but not the skill set. Failing a family member, you may consider whether an individual already involved as an employee in the business is a candidate for taking over the business.

After you have chosen your successor, you will need to arrange for his/her training in the business. It is also a good idea to have on-going communication with your successor to keep him/her involved in the succession process. This will allow him/her to understand his/her role in the business and in the overall transition process.

As well, having the potential successor become a minority owner early in the process (subject to the right protective agreements if things don’t work out) is often an excellent method of both “test driving” the potential successor’s involvement, and creating a financial stake for the successor in the business.

If neither of the potential internal buyers is viable, you may need to sell your company to an unrelated third party. In any of these cases, it is always a good idea to consider what other stakeholders (i.e. family members, business partners and/or employees) should be consulted prior to making a decision. If you are concerned that a conflict in the decision-making process might arise, you can implement an agreed-upon conflict resolution mechanism.

Decide on a Timeline

As with any plan, you will need to decide on, and establish, a timeline in which you wish to exit your business and transfer ownership. If you intend on maintaining voting control of the company after you have retired from working for your company, which is often the case if you are owed money from the successor and maintained some ownership then you should, at a minimum, consider what dates you wish to retire, transfer your share ownership and transfer voting control.

Position Your Business For Sale

The income tax rules in place today require businesses to meet certain tests in order for the owners to achieve the best tax results from sales. It is very important that early steps are taken to properly structure your business to maximize your net return on a sale. Your lawyer or accountant should be consulted now as it is often too late once a decision to sell is made to put in place the required structure.

Planning for Unforeseen Circumstances

It is always prudent to have a contingency plan to make sure financial resources are in place to ensure your business could continue in the case of an unforeseen circumstance, such as an accident, illness or death. Life and disability insurance are great tools to consider.

Regular Review of your Succession Plan

Review your succession plan regularly to determine whether it is still appropriate and applicable to your then-current circumstances and to current income tax rules. Ensure you revise the plan if changes are needed. Succession planning will raise financial, tax and legal implications so it is always a good idea to speak with advisors, such as your accountant, lawyer, and banker, before deciding which route is best for you.

Stephen Tierney & Jennifer Brigandi

Stephen Tierney is a Partner and Jennifer Brigandi is an Associate in the Business Law Group of Tierney Stauffer LLP. If you require further details, or require a lawyer to review or help draft your succession plan, please contact Jennifer at (613) 288-3221 or jbrigandi@tslawyers.ca
Tierney Stauffer LLP is a full service law firm with offices in Ottawa, Cornwall and arnprior. We focus on solutions.

If you presently have no valid Will, or if you have not reviewed your Will lately, you should consider meeting with a member of our Wills, Estates and Trust Practice Group to obtain advice on how best to protect your family or loved ones in the event of your death.

The following true-to-life scenarios may help to illustrate some of the dangers of failing to plan for your demise, or proceeding on faulty assumptions as to your present estate plan.

1. You are a 65 year old woman, recently married for the second time to a wealthy man.

You signed a will shortly after the death of your first husband which leaves your entire estate to your three children, and you see no reason to make any changes to that will, in view of the fact that your new husband has no need of your assets. Did you know that your recent marriage revoked your previous Will, and if you die without making a new will, your husband will inherit a significant portion of your estate?

2. You are a 50 year old man, divorced from your wife of 35 years.

You remain “best friends” and are very much in each other’s lives. You have no children and both of your parents and your only brother have died. You have two nieces which you barely know. You made a Will 20 years before your divorce which leaves your entire estate to your former wife. In view of your continuing relationship, you see no reason to change the disposition of your estate. Did you know that upon your death, any benefits accruing to your former wife are revoked, absent a contrary intention contained in your Will, and that your estate will devolve upon your nieces?

3. You are a 35 year old male, married with three children ages 1 month to 5 years.

Your wife is a stay-at-home Mom with no job skills and no assets of her own. You have no Will. Did you know that if you die without a Will, your wife will have to share a substantial part of your estate with your children, and may not have enough to live on without being forced into employment to make ends meet? Did you also know that any share to which your children are entitled must be paid into Court and supervised by an official of the Ontario Government until they attain the age of eighteen years?

4. You are married and all of your assets are owned jointly with your spouse.

You have no children, and you see no need to prepare a Will at this time, since on the death of either one of you, the survivor will inherit everything. The survivor would of course prepare a Will at that time. Did you know that if you and your wife die in a common disaster, one-half of your joint estate would be divided among members of your family, which could include parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews, while the other half of your joint estate would be divided in the same fashion among members of your spouse’s family? Is this what you would want?

5. Consider the same scenario as above.

Instead imagine that you die immediately in the same disaster, while your spouse survives, but dies from his or her injuries, one day later. Did you know that your entire joint estate would go to your spouse’s family?

Make an appointment with one of our skilled professionals today, to ensure that your wishes will be implemented on your death, and further to determine the most cost efficient and practical methods of accomplishing that objective. At the same time, consider planning for potential incapacity by putting Powers of Attorney in place.

If you have questions about your will or would like to draft a will, please contact one of our family law lawyers at (613) 728-8057. You can also contact Gail Nicholls directly at (613) 288-3234 or by e-mail at gailnicholls@tslawyers.ca.

Gail Nicholls,
Counsel Group,
Tierney Stauffer LLP

This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship.

Canada does not impose an estate tax upon the death of an individual. In fact, when Canadians die they are deemed to dispose of all their capital property at fair market value.

The U.S. system works differently: upon the death of a U.S. citizen, a tax is levied on the fair market value of the  deceased’s world-wide property. Furthermore, the U.S. estate tax applies to all property situated in the U.S. including  property owned by non-residents of the U.S. (oft en referred to as “Canadian Snowbirds”).

Consequently, upon death, a Canadian resident who owns U.S. real property or U.S. stocks may be regarded to have a large “deemed” capital gain with respect to such property in addition to a possible U.S. estate tax liability depending on the value of their U.S. properties or assets.

The first $3.5 million USD of a U.S. citizens’ estate is exempt from tax.  However, non-residents, including Canadians, are only entitled to a pro-rated exemption under the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty. This exemption is equal to $3.5 million USD multiplied by the ratio of U.S. property to your worldwide estate. Essentially, if your worldwide estate is worth less than $3.5 million, you need not worry about paying  U.S. estate tax … at least for now.

In June 2001, the U.S. passed a law that commenced the phasing-out  of the estate tax over the following decade.  Essentially, the estate tax rate has been gradually reduced and the exemption amount increased and, based on the legislation, the estate tax will be repealed  for the 2010 tax year. However, this may not be permanent as the legislation contains a “sunset clause” whereby, unless further steps are taken by Congress, the repeal of the estate tax will only last for one year, being 2010.

In 2011, the estate tax rules will revert back to the rules applied before 2001 resulting in the effective exemption of only $1 million USD (compared to $3.5 USD in 2009) and a maximum estate tax rate of 55% (compared to 45% in 2009). Many U.S. tax experts expect this issue to be addressed by Congress already proposed legislation that would cap the top estate tax rate at 35% and maintain the personal exemption at $3.5 million USD.

Nonetheless, Canadians who own U.S. property or assets should consult their tax professionals until Congress legislates on this issue. Until Congress acts on this issue, Canadian Snowbirds should review the U.S. estate tax with their estate planning advisor.

Canadians who have an estate worth more than $1 million USD may be at risk of having to pay U.S. estate tax.

If you have questions regarding this issue or any other issue pertaining to your estate, please contact Sebastien Desmarais, Associate, Tierney Stauff er LLP at (613) 288-3220 or sdesmarais@tslawyers.ca.

Sébastien Desmarais
LL.B., LL.L., J.D.
Associate, Tierney Stauffer LLP
This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. 

The purposes of a Henson Trust are to protect the assets (typically an inheritance) of a disabled person, as well as that person’s rights to collect government benefits and entitlements.

The key provision of a Henson Trust is that the trustee has “absolute discretion” in determining whether to use the trust assets to provide assistance to the beneficiary, and in what quantity. This provision means that the assets do not vest with the beneficiary and thus cannot be used to deny means-tested government benefits.

In addition, the trust may provide income tax relief by being taxed at a lower marginal rate than if the beneficiary’s total assets were considered. It can also be used to shield assets from matrimonial division in case of divorce of the beneficiary. In most cases, the trust assets are immune from claims by creditors of the beneficiary.

A Henson Trust can be established either as an Inter Vivos (Living) or a Testamentary Trust (Created by last Will and Testament). The most commonly used type of Henson Trust is the Testamentary Trust established in a parent’s or caregiver’s Will.

History of the Henson Trust

Leonard Henson had a daughter named Audrey. Audrey was a person with a developmental disability and she lived in a group home managed by the Guelph Association for Community Living. Leonard knew that if he left his estate directly to his daughter, it would exceed the allowable asset limits as set out by the Family Benefits Allowance (now called the Ontario Disability Support Program). He realized that having assets in the hands of his daughter directly would not be to her advantage and that her benefits would be terminated until the assets were “spent down” to a level below the threshold amount. In addition, Leonard’s wife had pre-deceased him and he had no other family.

Leonard discovered a technique that would allow Audrey to retain her government benefits while at the same time allowing her to receive quality of life enhancements from his estate. That technique was the use of the Absolute Discretionary Trust to be created in his Will as a Testamentary Trust. The Will required the creation of an Absolute Discretionary Trust which appointed the Guelph Association for Community Living as Trustee and his daughter Audrey as beneficiary of the trust. Once Audrey died, his Will instructed that the remaining funds in the Trust were to be passed on to the Guelph Association for Community Living.

The Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services (the ministry which controls the FBA (ODSP)), determined that Audrey had inherited the estate of her father and since it was in excess of the allowable amount of assets, they terminated her benefits. The Guelph Association for Community Living challenged this decision and the Ministry took the trust and the Trustee to court. The first court found that the funds contained in Audrey’s trust account did not meet the FBA (ODSP) definition of assets and therefore, it ruled in favour of the Trustees. The Ministry launched an appeal. The appeal reached the Supreme Court of Ontario and in September of 1989 was dismissed. The court allowed the trust to benefit Audrey without affecting her government benefits.

That decision has enabled families who have a son or daughter with a disability and are residents of Ontario with a vehicle in which they can place assets for their children without disqualifying them from receiving the ODSP payments to which they would otherwise be entitled.

For further information or assistance, please contact Douglas Laughton, Partner, Tierney Stauffer LLP at 613-288-3225 or dlaughton@tslawyers.ca. If you have questions about trusts in general, you can contact us at 613-728-8057 or by e-mail at info@tslaywers.ca.

Douglas J. Laughton
B.A. (Hons.), LL.B.
Partner, Tierney Stauffer LLP

This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. 

TAX BENEFITS
One of the greatest benefi ts of life insurance is that, upon the death of the insured individual, it provides a tax-free lump sum payment directly to the designated beneficiary(ies), tax free. Consequently, the insured individual knows that he or she provided protection and financial security to his or her surviving spouse or his or her surviving dependents.

Another reason to consider life insurance in the context of estate planning is estate preservation. The Income Tax Act provides that a deceased taxpayer is deemed to have disposed of each capital property owned by him or her  immediately before death for proceeds equal to the fair market value at that time. For tax purposes, that signifies a deemed a capital gain will be realized upon death.

In this context, life insurance may be purchased to provide the necessary funds to pay the capital gain, thereby  preventing the beneficiary(ies) of the estate from having to sell some of the assets to pay for the taxes.

Since the proceeds of the life insurance are paid directly to the designated beneficiary(ies), they do not form part of the estate and, as a result, probate tax is saved on that amount. It may be advantageous to transfer cash into life insurance and designate a beneficiary(ies) to avoid probate tax being levied on the value of these assets in the estate.

Life insurance should be considered a valuable estate planning tool as it can be cost efficient and will allow the insurance proceeds to be received tax-free by the designated beneficiary(ies).

TRUSTS
Th ere has been much debate as to whether one’s life insurance proceeds should be paid to their estate or to designated individual beneficiaries. Fundamentally, the issue is whether the proceeds are to be paid to a designated beneficiary,  thus avoiding probate tax, or paid to the estate in order to take full advantage of the graduated tax rates available to testamentary trusts on the income generated after death by the insurance proceeds.

The testamentary insurance trust may ultimately be the solution to that debate as it allows for funding of a trust using insurance proceeds such that the trust will also qualify as a testamentary trust for tax purposes. It is important to ensure
that the parameters of the testamentary insurance trust have been established prior to death in the deceased’s will in a manner intended to avoid probate tax. Also, care must be taken to ensure such trust meets the defi nition of a  testamentary trust and that it comes into eff ect in such a way so as to avoid probate tax.

If structured properly, the estate will avoid paying probate tax on the proceeds of the life insurance while the beneficiaries will benefit from the graduated tax rates of the testamentary trust on the income generated by the insurance proceeds. Th is arrangement may translate into considerable taxsavings for the beneficiaries.
THE ROLE OF LIFE INSURANCE IN A BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLAN
When developing a business succession plan, consider the use of life insurance as a source of funding to provide for the needs of the business upon the death of the business owner, a key executive, or shareholder. There are several key
tax advantages in using life insurance proceeds.

One of the main tax advantages is arranging for the life insurance proceeds to be payable to the corporation on a tax-free basis. As a result, the proceeds of the life insurance (over the adjusted cost base of the policy) will increase the capital dividend account of the corporation thereby allowing for the payment of tax-free capital dividends to the shareholders of the corporation or to the estate of the deceased shareholder. Depending on the Will of the deceased shareholder, the surviving spouse may receive tax-free capital dividends in a spousal testamentary trust allowing for income splitting.

Life insurance can also be an efficient means of funding the obligations under a buy/sell agreement found in a  shareholder agreement. The life insurance proceeds would be paid to the corporation thereby increasing the capital dividend account allowing for tax-free capital dividends to be available for purchase by the surviving shareholders from the deceased shareholder. If the shareholder  agreement provides for such a buy/sell agreement, the estate may also be entitled to claim the capital gain exemption on the sale of the shares to the surviving shareholders.

In order for this to occur, the shares must meet the definition of “qualified small business corporation shares” as defined in the Income Tax Act. If so, the estate would be eligible to receive up to $750,000 in tax-free shares. The business succession options set out above must be carefully implemented otherwise the business owner or the corporation might be assessed a taxable shareholder benefit by the Canada Revenue Agency.

It is not uncommon for a business owner to own the shares of a holding company which in turn own shares of the operating company. In those situations, there are a number of factual and tax considerations that must be considered in determining who will be the owner and beneficiary of the insurance policy; and which entity must pay the insurance premiums.

Life insurance may be used for reasons other than estate and business succession. Indeed, it may be possible to use some life insurance to fund the business owner’s retirement or for the company to offer some form of “supplementary executive retirement plan” to an executive person.

The success of your estate planning relies on a clear understanding of the rules of taxation upon death and the rules of taxation of life insurance. Seek professional advice when planning your estate, especially if you are considering implementing a business or succession plan with the use of life insurance, because an error could result in adverse tax consequences.

If you have any questions concerning estate or tax planning, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Sébastien Desmarais
LL.B., LL.L., J.D.
Associate, Tierney Stauffer LLP

This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. 

The Succession Law Reform Act (the “SLRA”) states that if one dies without a will, married spouses are entitled to a preferential share of the estate equal to $200,000 plus 1/2 of the balance to share with the deceased child or 1/3 of the balance to share with the deceased’s children.

However, common law relationships of heterosexual or same sex partners, lack the same recognition as married spouses under the SLRA leaving the surviving common law spouse with no statutory right to an inheritance from their spouse’s Estate.

That means if a common law spouse dies without a will, the surviving common law spouse has no entitlement to any part of the Estate.

For example consider Jack and Jill who have decided never to marry but have been living together for 15 years and have three children aged 12, 9 and 7. Unfortunately, Jack dies in a car accident leaving an estate valued at $300,000. Jack has no Will.

Because Jack and Jill were never married, Jill has no legal right to an inheritance or to property through an equalization payment and Jack’s estate will be divided equally among his three children where each would inherit $100,000 (held in trust until they have reached the age of majority).

As a common law spouse, Jill can only hope to succeed in an action where she would sue the Estate seeking support as a dependent.

The above example may seem unfair but the Supreme Court of Canada in Walsh v. Bona, held that such distinction does not offend the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms because the differentiation was based on the individuals’ choice of whether or not to marry.

Common law spouses who want their spouse to have a right to an inheritance in their Estate must have a valid Will. If you or someone you know is in a common law relationship and does not have a Will, to avoid a situation such as this, it is time to consider getting one.

If you have questions regarding this issue or any other issue pertaining to Wills and Estates Planning, please contact:

Sébastien Desmarais
LL.B., LL.L., J.D.
Associate, Tierney Stauffer LLP

This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. 

If you Marry, Your Existing Will will be Revoked

Upon your marriage, any Will that was executed prior to your marriage is automatically revoked pursuant to the Succession Law Reform Act. There are 3 exceptions to this rule, the most important being if there is a declaration in the Will that it was made in contemplation of the marriage. If your will does not fit into any of the 3 exceptions, you will have to have a new Will executed after your marriage otherwise upon your death, you will be deemed to die intestate and your estate will be distributed in accordance with the intestacy provisions of the Succession Law Reform Act.

If you Separate, Your Existing Will will not be Affected

If you separate from your spouse, your Will will not be affected. It will remain valid and your estate will be distributed in accordance with its terms even if your former spouse is the beneficiary of your estate.

It is our experience that upon separation, most clients do not want to benefit their former spouse. As such, it is important for an individual who has separated to meet with his/her lawyer to review their will and determine if a new Will needs to be executed.

If you are Divorced, the Interpretation of Your Will will be Affected

If you obtain a divorce from your spouse, your Will remains valid, however, its interpretation will be affected by the terms of the Succession Law Reform Act.

Pursuant to the legislation, any gift to your former spouse or an appointment of your former spouse as executor or trustee will be revoked and your will shall be construed as if your former spouse had pre-deceased you.
As such, it is also important for an individual who has obtained a divorce to meet with his/her lawyer to review their Will and determine if a new will needs to be executed.

If you have any questions regarding any of these issues, we would invite you to contact us in order that we can set up a time to meet and discuss your questions.

David Sinclair
B.Com., B.A., LL.B.
Senior Associate, Tierney Stauffer LLP

This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. 

The following is a summary of these very important issues and the factors that are often considered in resolving them.

Custody and the Residency of Children
One of the most important decisions that will need to be resolved on the breakdown of a marriage or relationship is who will have “custody” of the children.

The term “custody” refers to a parent’s right to make important decisions regarding a child’s care. A custodial parent is entitled to make decisions regarding a child’s education, health, religion and welfare.

Upon separation, one parent may be granted “sole custody” which means that that parent is entitled to make all of these important decisions alone. If one parent has sole custody, the other parent does not participate in these decisions but is still entitled to be informed of the decisions after they have been made and also receive information about other important issues in the child’s life. In other cases, the parents may be granted “joint custody” of the children. This means that the parents are joint decision makers and they must both agree before a major decision affecting the child is made. In order for joint custody to work, the parents must have an ability to effectively communicate with each other and they must have a common outlook towards parenting.

The residency of the children is an issue, which although technically separate from the issue of custody, is closely related to it. Upon the breakdown of a marriage or relationship, the parents may agree that the children will maintain their primary residence with one parent and the children will see the other parent according to a fixed access schedule. A typical access schedule normally involves the children seeing the other parent once during the week, every second weekend and during all major holidays.

In other families, the parents may agree that the children should not have a primary residence but rather the children should reside equally with both parents. This is referred to as “shared residency” or “shared custody.” Finally, the parents may also agree that one or more children should maintain their primary residence with one parent and one or more children should maintain their primary residence with the other parent. This is referred to as “split residency” or “split custody.”

The issues of custody and the residency of the children are always decided on the best interests of the children. In determining the “best interests of the children”, the following factors are considered: the love, affection, and emotional ties between the parent and the child, the views and preferences of the child, the length of time the child has lived in a stable home environment, any plans proposed for the upbringing of the child, the ability of each party to act as a parent, and the ability and willingness of each parent to provide the child with guidance and education, the necessaries of life and any special needs of the child.

Child Support
Both parents have a responsibility to financially support their children, regardless of the custody or access arrangement that is in place.

Generally, child support will be determined in accordance with the federal or provincial Child Support Guidelines. The guidelines provide a comprehensive but straight forward method of determining how much child support each parent will pay.

A child support order is usually comprised of two amounts: the “table” amount and a contribution towards a child’s “special and extraordinary” expenses.

The “table” amount represents a parent’s contribution to the day to day costs of raising a child, namely: shelter, clothing, food, basic extracurricular expenses, etc. Within the guidelines, there are different sections which detail how the table amount is to be calculated based upon the residency arrangements for the child(ren). Thus, if the children maintain their primary residence (defined as at least 60% of the time) with one parent, the table amount is calculated in a certain manner. If the children reside with both parents at least 40% of the time (referred to as “shared custody”), there is a different method of calculating child support. Finally, if there is more than one child, and at least one child maintains his or her primary residence with each parent, there is another method of calculating child support.

Regardless of which section of the guidelines will be used, the other variables which must be known prior to determining the table amount are: the number of children, the ages of the children and the incomes of both parties. Once these are known, the determination of the table amount is relatively straight forward.

Special and extraordinary expenses, as the term implies, are those expenses which fall outside the purview of a child’s daily needs. Examples of such expenses include: child care costs, medical and dental insurance premiums relating to the child, health related expenses such as orthodontic treatments or eyeglasses, the costs of post-secondary education, or expenses for extraordinary extracurricular activities.

A separate section of the guidelines details how each parent’s contribution towards these expenses will be determined. First, one must determine if the expense in question is both reasonable and necessary. If the answer to both of these questions is in the affirmative, then the parents will each contribute to the after-tax cost of the expense in proportion to each parent’s income. For example, if the after-tax cost of the expense is $1,000 and the mother earns $100,000 and the father earns $50,000, the mother will pay 67% of the expense and the father will pay 33%.

Spousal Support
Spousal support is designed to provide financial assistance from one spouse to the other upon the breakdown of a marriage or relationship. It is one of the most controversial areas of family law and one of the most difficult on which to advise.

There are three major issues that need to be resolved when spousal support is considered: entitlement, quantum and duration.

Entitlement involves, as the name implies, the determination of whether one spouse should receive support from the other. It is normally resolved after reviewing various factors including: the length of the marriage, the roles the parties assumed during the marriage, the financial circumstances of the parties at the breakdown of the marriage and the self-sufficiency of each party.

If there is an entitlement to spousal support, the next issues to be resolved are how much support should be paid and for how long. In determining these issues, the following factors will be relevant: the ages, health and incomes of the parties, the length of the marriage or relationship, the incomes of the parties, the needs of the recipient and the ability to pay of the payor, and, the future employment prospects for the parties.

To assist in the determination of the issues of quantum and duration, the federal government created the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (“SSAG”). These guidelines are advisory in nature, unlike the child support guidelines which are mandatory. The SSAGs use the incomes and ages of the parties, the length of the marriage whether child support is being paid to develop ranges of spousal support. The parties can then use the ranges generated as a means of resolving the issues of quantum and duration of spousal support.

Division of Property
The division of property will be directly affected by the nature of the relationship in question. Married spouses participate in a property division scheme which is detailed in Part I of the Family Law Act. It is referred to as the Equalization of Net Family Property. Unmarried spouses do not participate in this scheme. Property between unmarried spouses is generally divided according to ownership.

The Equalization of Net Family property scheme is premised on the fact that there is an equal contribution by both parties for the care of children, the management of the household and the financial provision for the family during a marriage. When a marriage ends, both parties should share equally in any assets and liabilities that were acquired or incurred over the course of the marriage.

The rules that need to be followed in complying with the scheme are complex and numerous exceptions and exemptions exist. The following is a very basic outline of the steps that need to be followed:

Step 1 – Each spouse determines his or her net worth on the date of separation. An individual’s net worth is determined by subtracting the value of all debts and liabilities one has from the value of all assets that one has. An adjustment may also have to be made to take into account whether a spouse has “excluded property” on the date of separation. Excluded property may include such things as: ifts or inheritances that were received during the marriage and which still exist on the date of separation, damages for personal injuries that were received during the marriage and which still exist on the date of separation, or life insurance proceeds that were received during the marriage and which still exist on the date of separation.

Step 2 – Each spouse determines his or her net worth on the date of marriage.

Step 3 – Each spouse determines his or her net family property. Net Family Property (“NFP”) can be defined as a spouse’s net worth on the date of separation (see step 1) less his or her net worth on the date of marriage (see step 2).

Step 4 – The parties compare their NFPs. If the two amounts are equal, nothing needs to be done. If one party has a higher NFP, the party with the higher NFP will pay the party with the lower NFP half of the difference between them to “equalize” their NFPs. This will result in each party receiving half of the assets and liabilities that were acquired over the course of the marriage.

Step 5 – Determine if the result in Step 4 needs to be adjusted to account for any unconscionable results. It should be noted that the result in Step 4 will generally stand and it is only in very rare circumstances that it will be adjusted by Step 5.

If one party owes the other an equalization payment, it is normally paid through a cash payment. However, the parties may agree that the payment is to be funded through the transfer of property, the assumption of debt or some other transaction.
Summary

This overview of the basic family law issues is a very brief summary. These issues are very complex and are often only resolved after a full analysis of numerous factors. As such, one should not rely upon the foregoing as being a definitive answer to your individual situation.

If you have questions about your separation or how a separation may affect you in the future, please contact one of our family law lawyers at (613) 728-8057. You can also contact Kerri Ross directly at (613) 288-3238 or by e-mail at kross@tslawyers.ca.

Kerri Ross, 
B.Sc. (Hons.), LL.B.
Associate, Tierney Stauffer LLP

This article is provided  as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a quaified legal professional and should not be relied upon to make decisions. In all cases, contact your legal professional for advice on any matter  referenced in this document before making decisions. Any use of this document does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship.