It’s only a matter of time before society’s popular opinion changes the law that relegates pets as property, predicts Toronto lawyer Elinor Shinehoft. “Animals are currently considered personal property — it’s never been changed,” says Shinehoft, who focuses on family law and estate planning at Shinehoft Law. Under the law… Read More
People should update their wills and powers of attorney if they move to another province or country, says Toronto wills and estates lawyer Elinor Shinehoft. The provinces govern estate documents and each jurisdiction is different in terms of probate rules and taxes, she tells AdvocateDaily.com. Also, powers of attorney could pose potential… Read More
Married couples and those in common-law relationships are generally treated the same in estates matters, but there are a couple of key differences that can have a financial impact on a surviving spouse, says Toronto wills and estates lawyer Elinor Shinehoft. “Many people don’t realize that there are differences between common-law and married couples when…
Communicating one’s wishes for end-of-life care is essential to ensure they’re honoured, but there’s still no guarantee that family members and doctors will be aware of a patient’s request, Toronto wills and estates lawyer Elinor Shinehoft tells AdvocateDaily.com. “I think it’s a matter of stating your wishes in as many ways as possible, but unfortunately…
Grandparents who receive access to their grandchildren through the courts, thanks to changes in legislation, could be at risk of one day having to make a financial commitment as well, says Toronto family lawyer Elinor Shinehoft. “Grandparents have to realize that, while they may be getting extra rights, it’s a double-edged sword. They may end…
It can be one of the toughest subjects to talk about, but discussing estate planning is important for families to ensure final wishes are honoured, says Toronto wills and estates lawyer Elinor Shinehoft. “Usually when we talk about planning, we’re discussing the preparation of a will and powers of attorney,” Shinehoft, the principal of Shinehoft Law, tells AdvocateDaily.com. Talking…
Separating couples are better off negotiating an agreement to deal with childcare expenses rather than relying on a court, Toronto family lawyer Elinor Shinehoft tells AdvocateDaily.com. Shinehoft, principal of Toronto family and personal injury firm, Shinehoft Law, says using mediation or collaborative law allows the parties to work out a pact to meet the financial…
Common-law couples could make their lives easier by drafting up simple cohabitation agreements, which Toronto family lawyer Elinor Shinehoft calls an incredibly underutilized tool. “It’s a written instrument that allows the common-law couple to determine certain ways of dealing with issues on the breakdown of a relationship,” Shinehoft, principal of Toronto family and personal injury firm, Shinehoft Law, tells AdvocateDaily.com.…
Toronto family lawyer Elinor Shinehoft would like to see Ontario follow Nova Scotia’s lead and replace language such as “access” and “visiting privileges” in its family law legislation with more modern phrasing. “When I hear terms such as ‘custody’ and ‘access’ I think more about aggression and posturing, and who’s going to win and lose,” says Shinehoft,…
A British Columbia court’s decision to award damages to an accident victim to help cover the future cost of surrogacy could well mark a new direction for personal injury law in Canada, says Toronto lawyer Elinor Shinehoft. “As far as I know we’ve never seen an accident victim be awarded money to pay for a surrogate,” says…