CLE Online

Day 1: Thursday, May 18th, 2017

Welcome and Introduction

James D. Baird — Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver

Overview of Estate Planning

• what is an estate plan?
• what are the goals of estate planning?
• what are the components of a typical estate plan?
• foreign property
• taxation
• blended families
• business succession
• disposition on death chart
• First Nations wills

James D. Baird — Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver

Role Play: The Interview Gone Wrong

Networking Break

The First Appointment

• the role of the lawyer
• preliminary information gathering
• the client interview
• difficult and/or challenging clients
• assessing capacity and undue influence
• post-interview steps

Kate S. Marples — Legacy Tax +Trust Lawyers, Vancouver

Essential Tax Considerations for Will and Estate Planners

• fundamental tax concepts
  •  taxation of capital gains
• lifetime transfers and gifts
• tax consequences on death
• registered plans (RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs)
• taxation of trusts
• planning strategies to minimize tax

Areet  S. Kaila — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver

Networking Lunch (Provided)

The Will

• property disposable by a will
• preparing your standard will
• drafting considerations
• common drafting errors
• technical requirements for formal execution
• other planning tips and traps
  
  Laura West — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Lessons from the Future

• preparing your standard probate application
• probate fees
• time factors
• asset list
• executor’s duties vs lawyer’s duties
    
  James D. Baird — Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver
  Kirsten E. H. Wharton — Westcoast Wills & Estates, North Vancouver

How to Develop a Wills and Estates Practice

• marketing and client development
• skills development
• pros and cons of focusing on a wills and estates practice
• differences in practice in a large firm vs boutique firm vs starting your own firm
• working with assistants and paralegals
• precedent development

Candace Cho — Onyx Law Group, Vancouver
Emily Clough — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver

Day 2: Friday, May 19th, 2017

Opening Remarks

James D. Baird — Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver

Role Play: The Interview Gone Right

Avoiding Claims: Common Pitfalls and Tips to Avoid Them

• management of clients and others
• performance of work
• retention of lawyer's file
• ethical and practice issues

Roger D. Lee — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Megan Swail — Lawyers Insurance Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver 

Networking Break

The Use of Joint Tenancies and Beneficiary Designations in Estate Planning

A. Joint Tenancies

• planning opportunities
• possible problem and pitfalls
• “true” joint tenancies vs “false” joint tenancies
• review of recent cases
  
  Emily Clough — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver

B. Beneficiary Designations

• insurance (life insurance, trusts)
• RRSPs/RRIFs
• RESPs
• TFSAs

Kirsten Jenkins — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver

Lifetime Planning - Not Dead Yet!

• planning for incapacity with respect to financial affairs
• planning for incapacity with respect to health care
• dealing with incapacity where there is no plan 
• POA, representation agreement, advanced directive, living will
   
  Geoffrey W. White — Geoffrey W. White Law Corporation, Counsel, Clark Wilson LLP, Kelowna & Vancouver 

Networking Lunch (Provided)

The Use of Trusts in Estate Planning

• how to choose the right trust: inter vivos or testamentary
• essential components of a trust
• the components of a well-drafted trust
• alter ego and joint partner trusts
• bare trusts
• trusts for minors and disabled beneficiaries
• principal residence trusts

Fiona Hunter — Horne Coupar, Victoria

Wills Variation Considerations

A. Recent Wills Variation Cases 

• what constitutes “adequate provision”
• reasons for disinheritance
• competing claims by adult children
• competing claims between spouse and children
• blended family claims
• role of executor
• costs

B. Wills Variation and the Family Law Act

• spousal qualification
• the assessment of the legal obligation under the Family Law Act
• family property and excluded property

Networking Break

C. Wills Variation and Other Estate Claims

• wills variation and proof of will proceeding
• wills variation and resulting trust claims
• procedure for bringing all claims at the same time

D. Impact of Wills Variation on Estate Planning

• effective use of a will in contentious circumstances
• memorandum of reasons
• ethical issues relating to planning to avoid variation claims
  
  Anna Chen — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
  Helen H. Low, QC — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Closing Questions and Comments