A presentation made by Lise Poratto-Mason during the free public forum "Continuing the Conversation: a discussion on preparing for end-of-life care" on February 6, 2014 at the United Steelworkers Hall in Sudbury, Ontario. Lise Poratto-Mason is a partner with the law firm of MASON PORATTO-MASON LLP. Learn more about the forum at http://www.hsnsudbury.ca/events

1. END OF LIFE AND
ESTATE PLANNING
Presented by Lise Poratto-Mason

2. Why have an Estate Plan?







Helps to protect the value of your estate
Focuses on the distribution of your assets after death
To reduce taxes now, for the surviving spouse, and at death
To reduce taxes for beneficiaries after your death
Reduces estate administration costs
Minimizes burden on beneficiaries
To ensure that your objectives are clear, realistic and that
they will be attained

3. Getting Started
Begin by organizing what is needed 




Determine your objectives
Take inventory of your assets
Estimate your outstanding debts
Prepare a list of family members / beneficiaries
Decide how assets will be distributed - immediate or
through a trust?

4. Components of your
Estate Plan
Common elements to be considered for most estate plans are  Valid and current Wills
 Powers of Attorney
 Ownership structures, such as Joint Tenancy With Right of
Survivorship
 Trusts
 Taxes at death and effective probate planning
 Beneficiary designations

5. WILLS AND WILL PLANNING
The benefits of thinking ahead:

6. Wills - a difficult topic
for discussion
 Wills can often be a difficult topic to deal with
 Can often be delayed and put off until ‘later’
 Necessity for a Will can be understated or overlooked

7. Why have a Will?
 Ensures your property will be distributed according to your
wishes
 Enables you to name a guardian for minor children
 Relieves the burden of decision-making for those left behind
 With no Will, you are considered to have passed away
‘intestate’ and assets may be otherwise distributed based on
provincial legislation

8. Wills are not only
for the wealthy
A common misconception is that Wills are:
 Just for the wealthy
 Just for those with significant assets
 Just for those in latter stages of life

9. Where to start?
Begin by organizing what is needed  Determine your objectives: Who do you want to get your
possessions when you die? Who do you want to be in charge
of your Estate (Estate Trustee / Executor)
 Take inventory of your assets (the lawyer needs to know
what you own; home, cottage, RRSP, RIFF, life insurance
and business)
 The present structure of your affairs directly affects your
estate

10.  Estimate your outstanding debts
 Prepare a list of family members / beneficiaries
 Decide who you want to name to care for your minor
children (Guardian)
 Decide who will take over if your beneficiary, estate trustee
or guardian dies before you do
 Decide if you want to make a gift to a charity (Planned
Gifts). There are significant tax credits which may reduce
the net cost of a donation to approximately 30 cents on a
dollar
 Decide on the preparation of insurance designations

11. Legal preparation is
recommended
A lawyer’s expertise and professionalism is recommended  Ensures that your wishes are executed in an organized and
timely fashion
 Lawyer may work with your accountant or investment
advisor to enable tax-effective distribution

12. Choosing an Executor
The role of executor is an important one  Executor oversees distribution of assets as described in your Will
 Executor can be spouse, adult child, relative, friend, trust
company or lawyer
 Executor takes care of financial and tax issues on your behalf
 Should be someone familiar with your estate and your family
 Always seek their permission to ensure they are prepared to act
for you
 Executors are entitled to compensation at the rate of about 5% of
the value of the estate; is that what you want?

13. Keep your Will updated
 Make sure your Will reflects your current situation
 Major life events can change original choices in Will
 Changes in the nature or value of your assets can affect
current Will

14. A Will - is the cornerstone of
any estate plan
 Each adult should maintain a Will throughout their lifetime
 A Will is the cornerstone of proper estate plan
 A Will is a legal document ensuring distribution of your estate as
you have specified and clearly states your objectives
 A Will gives you the peace of mind that you’ve done all you can
to make the lives of those you care about the most easier when
you’re no longer here
 A Testamentary Trust is a significant tax reduction strategy which
must be provided for in your Will
 Provisions must be made for disabled beneficiaries

15. Insurance Designations
 Insurance proceeds may be an important element of your
estate
 The Insurance Designation must be reviewed to ensure that
it will not increase probate fees and that the tax benefit of a
testamentary trust is available

16. POWERS OF ATTORNEY

17. Definition
A power of attorney is an authority given by one person (the
grantor or principal) to another person (the attorney) to act
on behalf of the grantor in conducting his or her financial
affairs or in making personal decisions for the grantor.

18. General Principles
The attorney appointed by a power of attorney acts as a
fiduciary and, as such, must account, must use reasonable
care in acting, must not act in conflict with the grantor’s
interests and must not make secret profits.

19. Capacity
The grantor has capacity to appoint an attorney for property if
he or she is at least eighteen years old and:
 knows what kind of property he or she has and its
approximate value;
 is aware of obligations owed to his or her dependants;
 knows that the attorney will be able to do on the person’s
behalf anything in respect of property that the person could
do if capable, except make a Will, subject to the conditions
and restrictions set out in the power of attorney

20.  Knows that the attorney must account for his or her dealings
with the person’s property;
 knows that he or she may, if capable, revoke the continuing
power of attorney;
 appreciates that unless the attorney manages the property
prudently, its value may decline; and
 appreciates the possibility that the attorney could misuse the
authority given to him or her.

21. The standard is not quite so high for appointing an attorney
for personal care. The grantor must be at least sixteen years
old and:
 have the ability to understand whether the proposed attorney
has a genuine concern for the person’s welfare; and
 appreciate that the person may need to have the proposed
attorney make decisions for the person.
The attorney for personal care so appointed must be at least
sixteen years old.

22. Why have a Power of Attorney
A continuing power of attorney for property is obviously
most useful if the grantor should become incapacitated.
By signing such a document while still capable, the grantor
personally selects the most trusted and responsible person to
act on his or her behalf in this situation.

23. 





Forms and Execution
Conditions and Restrictions
Multiple Authorizations
Standard of Care and Accounting Responsibilities
Termination
Revocation

24. 





Authorized Expenditures, Gifts and Loans
Power of Attorney for Personal Care
Compensation for Attorneys
Combined Forms
Will Contents
Assets in Other Jurisdictions