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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An Open Letter to Family Law Clients
Open Letter to Client Thank you for entrusting me with your family law matter. Going through a divorce or any family law case can be very stressful and you are probably unsure of what to expect from your attorney. I thought it would be helpful to provide you with some general information so that you …
5 Tips For Keeping Gifts and Inheritances Received During the Marriage as Separate Property
The presents are unwrapped, and gifts exchanged. But that gift with your name on it, or that new vehicle in the driveway with a big bow on top, is it really yours? Or, in the event of a divorce or legal separation, is it part of the marital estate subject to division? Gifts that you …
Canadian Fall Economic Statement Regarding Tax Treatment of Employee Stock Options
In the 2019 federal budget, the Canadian federal government announced changes to the taxation of employee stock options. On November 30, 2020, in its Fall Economic Statement, the federal government announced it was moving forward with plans to amend the tax treatment of employee stock options and released further information. Beginning July 1, 2021, stock …