The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) allows certain businesses (generally, employers with fewer than 500 employees and non-federal governmental employers) to claim refundable tax credits as a reimbursement for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave from April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021 to their employees due to COVID-19, including …
Attorney General of Quebec v. Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (Procureur General Du Quebec v. Association Canadienne Des Telecommunications Sans Fil)
Overview The Canadian Criminal Code (the “Code”) [1] sets out the parameters of legal gaming in Canada pursuant to section 91 (27) of the Constitution Act, 1867,[2] which gives the federal government jurisdiction over criminal penalties and sanctions such as those applicable to gambling. The Code prohibits gambling except where permitted by explicit statutory exemptions, one of which provides …
The Perfect Divorce: Lessons Learned From Bill and Melinda Gates
The announcement by Bill and Melinda Gates that they were ending their 27 year marriage shocked many. However, what was even more shocking was how amicable it appeared. We hear horror stories about how contentious, emotional, and difficult divorces can be. In some cases, the mere thought of engaging in any financial and emotional warfare …
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Release of the 2021 Canadian Budget
On April 19, 2021, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, released the first official budget in the past two years, titled, Federal Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience (the “Budget”). The Budget proposed over $100 billion in spending, and, among the more significant measures, the Budget proposes to extend …
What Part Of Our Property Does My Spouse Have An Interest In?
A frequently asked question in family law has to do with how much of an interest, if any, each spouse has in the couple’s assets and liabilities. The way it’s usually asked is something along the lines of: “I have this [inheritance item, cash, property etc. either from before the marriage or gifted to me …
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Tax Treatment of Unemployment Benefits
The federal American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Biden in March 2021 provides that up to $10,200 of state unemployment benefits received by individuals during 2020 are excluded from gross income. Taxpayers are eligible for the exclusion only if federal adjusted gross income is less than $150,000. The mid-March legislation created some initial confusion …
Canada Continues Push for Singles-Game Sports Betting
The Canadian Criminal Code (the “Code”) sets forth the parameters of legal gaming in Canada. The Code generally prohibits sports-based wagering except where such wagering is conducted and managed by the provincial governments; however, section 207(4)(b) of the Code prohibits even those governments from offering wagering on the outcome of a single sporting event or …
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May I Have a Deduction, Please?
Recently released final regulations under section 162(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), make it a necessity to properly draft settlement agreements and court orders between a taxpayer and the government (federal, state or local or any of their agencies) to put the taxpayer in the best tax position possible. …
Should I Become Legally Separated Instead of Divorced?
The difference between legal separation and divorce is a commonly asked question. Each State may address legal separation differently. In Tennessee, there are important differences between legal separation and divorce to know before making a decision. First, legal separation is not the same as a divorce. It is also not a “cheaper” way to avoid …
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What Documents Should You Gather in a Divorce? A Checklist to Help Guide You
One of the most frustrating parts of a divorce for participants, whether you are representing yourself or you have a lawyer, is the volume of documents that must be exchanged. In Arizona, under the Rules of Family Law Procedure, each party is required, within 40 days of after a response to the initial petition is …
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