ARTICLE · 01 NOVEMBER 2017

How To Plan For Cottage Succession

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP

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Last time, we discussed the factors clients should consider when transitioning the family cottage or vacation property.

CanadaFamily and Matrimonial

Margaret O'Sullivan

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Last time, we discussed the factors clients should consider when transitioning the family cottage or vacation property. These factors included personal, family, tax and family law issues.

Read: Consider these issues when planning cottage succession

Once those are considered, it's time to look at how to structure the transition. Several planning options are available. However, the viability and desirability of each option depends on each individual owner's circumstances.

Options for succession

Joint ownership

Joint ownership with right of survivorship can be a simple and effective method of property succession. However, it does not allow for sophisticated tax planning such as holding the property in a trust on the first spouse's death. In addition, this type of joint ownership is not usually advisable for U.S. vacation properties owned by Canadians who are not U.S. citizens. This is due to the two countries' tax systems and how they treat the property

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