Family Law, Finance & Banking

Employment And Labor Law Alert: Minnesota's Same-Sex Marriage Law: Effects On Employers

by Angela Bohmann, Jewelie Grape, Christina Sans | Leonard, Street and Deinard on 5/20/2013

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Governor Dayton signed into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Minnesota (H.F. 1054 and S.F. 925), effective August 1, 2013....more

Pension Changes Proposed in Ontario Budget

by Mark Newton, Evan Van Dyk | Heenan Blaikie LLP on 5/9/2013

On May 2, 2013, the Liberal government in Ontario released its proposed budget. While the NDP has not yet lent the proposed budget support in order to ensure its passage, the Heenan Blaikie Pensions, Benefits and Compensation...more

Divorce Attorney For Financial Advisors And Stockbrokers

by Joseph Russell, Jr. | Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A. on 5/7/2013

Stockbrokers and financial advisors going through a divorce often face non-routine issues due to the unique nature of their compensation. It is important for a financial advisor, and likewise, his or her spouse, to retain a...more

Ontario Budget 2013 – More Pension Reform to Come

by Lesha Van Der Bij | Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on 5/3/2013

In today’s budget, the Ontario government announced that it is continuing with its pension reform agenda, but it is not all “old news”. Perhaps of most interest to employers and plan administrators will be the government’s...more

Do Not Delay Getting Your QDRO

by Angela Bohmann | Leonard, Street and Deinard - Employee... on 5/1/2013

Employers know that benefits under a retirement plan can be split between a participant and a former spouse in the event of a divorce under the terms of a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO). A domestic relations order...more

Employers Should Review How Plan Documents Define Spouse in Light of Recent Benefits Litigation

by Lisa Loesel, Jacob Mattinson, Todd Solomon, Brian Tiemann | McDermott Will & Emery on 4/30/2013

Two recent cases challenging benefit eligibility for same-sex spouses highlight the need for employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans to clearly define "spouse" for eligibility purposes. Employers may want to review...more

Bank Account Searches: Are They Permissble?

by Edward Amaral on 4/18/2013

Lawyers and other professionals contact our office every day and ask whether it is permissible for an asset search company or private investigator to conduct bank, stock, bond or mutual fund account searches on a subject. The...more

Carrigan Case: Supreme Court of Canada Dismisses Leave to Appeal

by Douglas Rienzo | Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on 3/29/2013

This morning, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the application for leave to appeal in Carrigan v. Carrigan Estate. As a result, the Ontario Court of Appeal’s new interpretation of the priority scheme for the payment of...more

FSCO Updates Family Law Forms

by Douglas Rienzo | Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on 1/21/2013

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has posted revised family law forms which plan administrators, plan members and their spouses/former spouses must use when plan members or their spouses are seeking a...more

January 2013 HNW Case Study

by InKnowVision on 1/11/2013

Chris is 68 and Beth is 59. Chris has recently just retired from an executive position in a public company. They have always led a relatively simple and conservative lifestyle and as a result have built up a very significant,...more

FBAR-The New Marriage Penalty

by Sanford Millar on 1/7/2013

For those U.S. taxpayers who are married to non-residents there is a new form of marriage penalty if the spouses filed joint returns. To be eligible to file joint returns an election must be made with the first joint return...more

Insight on Estate Planning - Year End 2012

by Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. on 12/6/2012

In This Issue: - The spousal lifetime access trust: A safety net in uncertain times - Be prepared for a triggering event: If you own interests in a closely held business, consider a buy-sell agreement - Is your...more

CTFC Reinstates Family Office Exception

by Christine McKillip on 12/5/2012

On November 29, 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) released a blanket No-Action Letter providing relief from registration as a Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”) to family offices that qualify for the...more

CTFC Reinstates Family Office Exception

by Thomas J. Handler, J.D., P.C. on 12/5/2012

On November 29, 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) released a blanket No-Action Letter providing relief from registration as a Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”) to family offices that qualify for the...more

CTFC Reinstates Family Office Exception

by Thomas J. Handler, J.D., P.C. on 12/5/2012

On November 29, 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) released a blanket No-Action Letter providing relief from registration as a Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”) to family offices that qualify for the...more

December 2012 HNW Case Study

by InKnowVision on 12/5/2012

James is 64, and a few years ago started up a Consulting Company (Consulting Corp) with his business partner Dave. They have acquired some lucrative contracts over the last couple of years, and after spending frugally his...more

Domestic Partner and Same-Sex Marriage Laws: Approval of Washington Marriage Equality Act and Impact on Employee Benefits

by Richard Birmingham, Dipa N. Sudra | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 11/13/2012

On Nov. 6, 2012, Washington voters approved same-sex marriage in Washington state. This advisory explains the impact of this new law on employee benefit plans and procedures, and revisits the treatment of employee benefits...more