Trusts
When estate planning for a family member with a disability, terms like Trust, Henson Trust, Qualified Disability Trust, Lifetime Benefit Trust, Bare Trust, and Standard Trust are used frequently, but what do they actually mean? Understanding these distinctions can be the difference between safeguarding a loved one’s access to government benefits and accidentally disqualifying them. … Read more
The primary residence is often the most significant asset a parent can leave behind, but it’s also the most legally complex especially when the child is disabled. Because every situation is unique, deciding the ideal plan requires careful consideration of long term needs of the beneficiary, tax implications, and provincial benefit rules. Shared ownership (joint … Read more
Subsidized housing, also known as Rent Geared to Income (RGI), operates under provincial or municipal acts that are separate from social assistance programs such as ODSP. Because the rules of each program are different, it is imperative that recipients are familiar with asset and income thresholds. In 2026, where you live in Canada determines whether … Read more
A Henson Trust is one of the most powerful estate planning tools available to Canadian families with a loved one living with a disability. Named after Leonard Henson who cared for his disabled daughter, this type trust is specifically designed to allow a person with a disability to inherit assets without losing their eligibility for … Read more
A QDT is a tax advantaged trust available to beneficiaries who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). It is an estate planning tool that must be created through a will as a testamentary trust and only becomes active when the person who wrote the will (the settler) passes away. The executor is then responsible … Read more