CLE Online

Wednesday, November 24

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

Eric B. Clavier — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Emily Clough — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver

Overview of Estate Planning (9:10 – 9:40)

• what is an estate plan?
• what are the goals of estate planning?
• what are the components of a typical estate plan?
• specific issues to be considered
  • foreign property
  • multiple wills—probate?
  • taxation
  • blended families
  • First Nations wills
• remote witnessing

Emily Clough — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (9:40 – 9:55)

The First Appointment (9:55 – 10:55)

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

Isabel L. Romeral — Farris LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:55 – 11:10)

Essential Tax Considerations for Will and Estate Planners (11:10 – 12:10)

• 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

Blair P. Dwyer — Dwyer Tax Law, Victoria

LUNCH (12:10 – 12:50)

The Will (12:50 – 1:50)

• property disposable by a will
• preparing your standard will
• drafting considerations
• common drafting errors
• technical requirements for formal execution
• other planning tips and traps

Sonali Sharma — Athena Law, Vancouver

BREAK (1:50 – 2:05)

Lessons from the Future (2:05 – 2:45)

• preparing your standard probate application
• probate fees
• time factors
• implications for the estate plan

Mike Beishuizen — Westcoast Wills and Estates Law Corporation, North Vancouver

BREAK (2:45 – 3:00)

Essential Corporate and Business Succession Issues for Will and Estate Planners (3:00 – 4:00)

• overview 
• estate freeze basics
  • why does an estate freeze?
  • s. 85 and other tax deferral provisions
  • valuations
• practice tips for estate freezes 
  
  • best practices
  • working with accountants
  • conflict issues
• going beyond the corporate legal and tax issues
  
  • how to raise and discuss soft issues with clients
  • dealing with family dynamics
  • managing and coordinating personal and corporate planning for clients
  • practical considerations for client's business and family

Annie H. Chen — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Hardeep Gill — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver\

Thursday, November 25

Welcome Back (9:00 – 9:05)

Eric B. Clavier — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Emily Clough — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver

Professional Conduct (9:05 – 10:05)

• common complaints about lawyers in wills and estate planning
• ways to avoid complaints
• complaint process and responding to the Law Society

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
• Lawyers Indemnity Fund and the policy
• common risks of error

Carolyn R. Anderson — Manager, Professional Conduct, Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Amy A. Mortimore — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver
Megan Swail — Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouverer

BREAK (10:05 – 10:20)

The Use of Joint Tenancies and Beneficiary Designations in Estate Planning (10:20 – 11:20)

A. Joint Tenancies

• planning opportunities
• possible problem and pitfalls
• "true" joint tenancies vs "false" joint tenancies
• review of recent cases

Emily Clough — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver

B. Beneficiary Designations

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

Nikki Hildebrand — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (11:20 – 11:35)

Lifetime Planning—Not Dead Yet! (11:35 – 12:15)

• 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, advance directive, living will

Geoffrey W. White — Geoffrey W. White Law Corporation, Counsel, Clark Wilson LLP, Kelowna and Vancouver

LUNCH (12:15 – 12:55)

The Use of Trusts in Estate Planning (12:55 – 1:50)

• how to choose the right trust: inter vivos or testamentary
• constituting a trust
• components of a well drafted trust
• commonly used inter vivos trusts
  • spouse trusts
  • alter ego and joint partner trusts
  • bare trusts
• commonly used testamentary trusts
  
  • spouse trusts
  • trusts for minors and young adults
  • trusts for disabled beneficiaries
• the impact of the Land Owner Transparency Act on trust planning

Fiona Hunter — Horne Coupar LLP, Victoria 

BREAK (1:50 – 2:05)

Wills Variation Considerations (2:05 – 3:05)

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
• competing claims

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

Eric B. Clavier — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Amanda N. Winters — Farris LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (3:05 – 3:20)

Using Mediation in an Estate Claim (3:20 – 3:55)

• being an effective advocate in mediation
• communication, valuation, and taxation
• skillful negotiation—informed not haphazard or ritualistic
• yes! mediation can settle that nightmare case
• key ethical point

The Honourable Sandra K. Ballance — Mediator, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (3:55 – 4:00)

Eric B. Clavier — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Emily Clough — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver