Understanding Probate in Canada: Everything You Need to Know | Probate is a crucial process in the Canadian legal system that ensures the deceased person’s estate is distributed according to their wishes.
Curated Content Legacy Lexicon

Understanding Probate in Canada: Everything You Need to Know

  • January 21, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Strategies For Passing On Property To Your Heirs | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Estate Planning | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Real Estate: Strategies for Passing Property to Your Heirs

  • February 23, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes

  • March 3, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Individuals who are making plans related to end-of-life decisions, providing assistance to adults or minors in need of care, or making other life changes may need to complete and file a number of estate planning or probate forms in court. Some of the most common areas in which people may seek out forms of this nature include those related to advance directives, guardianships, and name changes.
Curated Content Related Resources

Estate Planning & Probate Legal Forms: 50-State Resources

  • March 30, 2023
  • 2 minutes read
What Happens if a Person Has Multiple Wills in Ontario?
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens if a Person Has Multiple Wills in Ontario?

  • May 28, 2022
  • 1 minute read
Robbie Robertson’s Children Accuse Widow of "Financial Elder Abuse" | Family Disputes | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Robbie Robertson’s Children Accuse Widow of “Financial Elder Abuse”

  • June 12, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Cryptocurrency Holdings: Ensuring Smooth Distribution of Digital Assets
Curated Content Digital Distress

Cryptocurrency Holdings: Ensuring Smooth Distribution of Digital Assets

Estate Planning Priorities for Canadian Business Owners
Curated Content Succession Lessons

Estate Planning Priorities for Canadian Business Owners

Avoid Estate Administration Surprises. Performing a title search on your property as part of your estate plan could save your heirs both money and hassle. 
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Avoid Estate Administration Surprises: Perform a Title Search

In the rapidly evolving digital era, businesses are compelled to rethink traditional practices, particularly in the realm of succession planning.
Curated Content Succession Lessons

Strategic Approaches to Business Succession in The Digital Age

There can be sentimental reasons to keep inherited real estate, but —unless you plan to use the property personally— you should ask yourself: would you buy that real estate with an equivalent amount of cash?
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Inheriting Real Estate: Ask Yourself “Would You Buy it?”

valuable lessons learned from

Communication Breakdowns
& Family Disputes

Homemade wills can create confusion, delay and heartbreak for the very people you’re trying to protect. A will is one of the most important legal documents a person will ever sign. Spending an hour with an estate lawyer is not a luxury — it’s a safeguard against the horrors of homemade wills.
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Cautionary Tales of DIY Gone Awry: The Horrors of Homemade

  • October 21, 2025
  • 3 minutes read
Biggest Risk to the Continuity of Family Wealth: Breakdown of Communication and Trust | Curated Content | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Breakdown of Communication: The Biggest Risk to Family Wealth

  • November 28, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Inspired by recent research on inheritance family feuds, here’s how to protect your family from the devastating conflicts that tear families apart after a loved one’s passing...
Curated Content Family Disputes

Family Feuds Over Inheritance: Causes & Conflict Prevention

  • July 10, 2025
  • 1 minute read
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Saskatchewan Court Ruling on Digital Message: Is it a Will?
Curated Content Digital Distress

Saskatchewan Court Ruling on Digital Message: Is it a Will?

  • February 19, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Charitable Bequests: The Importance of Names
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Charitable Bequests: “What’s in a Name?”

  • July 10, 2025
  • 1 minute read
The Biggest Mistakes People Make in Their Wills | Common Mistakes | Cautionary Tales | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong
Common Mistakes Curated Content

The Biggest Mistakes People Make in Their Wills

  • March 8, 2022
  • 1 minute read
Rotary Fights ‘Misleading Headlines’: Dispute Over Complicated Estate
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Charity Wants ‘Nothing But Resolution’: Rotary Speaks Out

  • November 20, 2024
  • 1 minute read
There are steps you can take to find out if you have an unclaimed inheritance. Learn how to claim assets that may be rightfully yours...
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

How to Search for Unclaimed Inheritance: Canada

  • November 30, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Estate Planning: How To Keep Track of Passwords, Access Keys, and PINs
Curated Content Digital Distress

Estate Planning: How To Keep Track of Passwords, Access Keys, and PINs

  • March 6, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Scenes that involve issues interwoven with estate planning principles: The Lion King, Storks, Despicible Me, Step Brothers, Up, Lost, Buried
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Estate Planning Principles: Scenes from the Silver Screen

  • November 14, 2018
  • Less than a minute
Courts could use artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up probate, but digitizing documents and training a new AI model is labour intensive.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Could AI Speed Up Uncontested Probate Applications?

  • February 4, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Gene Roddenberry is widely known as the mind behind Star Trek but less well known is his ugly estate litigation fight that centered around the definition of “Star Trek.”
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

To Boldly Go Where No Estate Litigation Has Gone Before

  • August 7, 2019
  • 2 minutes read
March is Fraud Prevention Month and with reported cases of fraud rising, seniors are encouraged to increase their awareness of current scams and learn how they can protect themselves.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Cyber Scams: Fraud Prevention Resources for Canadian Seniors

  • March 10, 2025
  • 1 minute read
When Caretakers Empty the Coffers: A Look at Guardianship Fraud
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

When Caretakers Empty the Coffers: A Look at Guardianship Fraud

  • April 13, 2022
  • 1 minute read
Family Conflict Results in Long-Term Estate Litigation over Secret Trust and Mutual Wills Agreement | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Family Disputes

Family Conflict Results in Long-Term Estate Litigation

  • September 9, 2020
  • 1 minute read
guardian safeguards + eldercare nightmares

The Importance of Planning for
Custody & Long-Term Care

Our pets are more than animals for many of us. They are beloved family members, providing companionship, joy, and comfort. How can you include your pets in your estate plan? What are your options?
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

Your Estate Plan: Trusts & Care Provisions for Your Pets

  • December 8, 2023
  • 2 minutes read
The UK is tackling its long-term care crisis through increased funding, leveraging technology, strengthening the social care workforce, and supporting informal carers.
Generated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

How is the UK Tackling its Long-Term Care Crisis?

  • September 22, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
On the Lookout: Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse | Long-Term Care | Elder Care | Power of Attorney | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

On the Lookout: Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse

  • December 18, 2024
  • 1 minute read
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Helpful Tips + Reference Guides

Related Resources

By approaching estate planning with openness and involving your family in the conversation, you create a legacy of love, respect, and financial security that extends beyond your lifetime.
Curated Content Related Resources

What & When Should You Tell Your Children About Their Inheritance?

  • June 20, 2022
  • 2 minutes read
Read More
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, it may be difficult to think beyond the day to day. However, taking steps now can help prepare for a smoother tomorrow.
Curated Content Related Resources

Decision-Making After a Dementia Diagnosis: Planning Ahead

  • May 1, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Read More
Mental Health Impacting Intergenerational Wealth Transfers [Podcast Episode]
Curated Content Related Resources

The Impact of Mental Health on Intergenerational Wealth Transfers

  • June 10, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Read More
Few legal disputes are as personal and emotional as challenging a will. Whether you are considering contesting a will or defending against a challenge, you should know what to expect...
Curated Content Related Resources

Contesting a Will in Ontario: How it Works & What to Expect

  • October 8, 2025
  • 1 minute read
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Recent Posts

Major life transitions can cause stress that makes it hard to think clearly, leading to poor financial decisions. A Certified Financial Transitionist can help you manage the financial and emotional aspects of these events.
November 18, 2025

The Financial and Emotional Challenges of Major Life Changes

Staying informed isn’t just good practice. It protects relationships, builds trust, and ensures clients feel safe and supported. Consider bookmarking the BankSafe Dementia Hub as a go-to reference when navigating delicate client situations.
November 17, 2025

Dementia Hub: Fraud Prevention Resources from AARP

It is generally unreasonable to expect an executor to work for free, or for less than the standard rate, given the considerable amount of work involved. For potential executors, clarity about compensation helps them make informed decisions about accepting the role.
November 4, 2025

Is it Reasonable for an Executor to Expect Compensation?

A multijurisdictional approach uses one document, whereas a cross-jurisdictional approach uses multiple, separate documents. Both require specialized legal advice to navigate differences in foreign laws, such as forced heirship rules, and to ensure wishes are carried out effectively. 
November 3, 2025

Multi-Jurisdictional vs Cross-Jurisdictional Estate Planning

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Infamous Feuds + Celebrity Estates

Cautionary Tales

AI and Ethics Collide: A proposal to use artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of late actor Robin Williams has reignited a contentious debate around consent, legacy, and the ethical boundaries of generative AI.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Robin Williams Voice Recreation Proposal Sparks Backlash

Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential and renowned artists of the 20th century, left a lasting legacy through his groundbreaking artwork. However, the probate process that followed his death in 1973 was anything but straightforward.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

From Canvas to Courtroom: The Legal Battle Over Picasso’s Estate

Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute with Granddaughter over Lisa Marie Presley's Estate | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute with Granddaughter over Estate

After deliberating for almost one hour, jurors found that a handwritten will, discovered under a sofa cushion by Franklin’s niece after the singer’s death, was signed by the music legend in 2014 and does show her intent.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Jury Reaches Verdict in Battle over Aretha Franklin’s Estate

Daughters of late Hollywood legend Paul Newman filed a lawsuit against the Newman's Own Foundation (NOF), claiming their father's legacy is "under assault" by the "very organization he founded in an effort to preserve and expand that legacy."
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Paul Newman’s Daughters Claim Father’s Legacy is ‘Under Assault’

Inside The Bitter Family Feuds of America’s Richest Billionaire Clans
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Inside The Bitter Feuds of America’s Richest Families

Kate Rothko Prizel, the daughter of renowned abstract artist Mark Rothko, once said being 19 was the worst year of her life. Still only a teenager, in 1970, Prizel was embroiled in a bitter legal battle with her father’s estate executors and the directors of the Marlborough Fine Art gallery.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

How Greed Rocked the Art World: The Estate of Mark Rothko

Divergent Estate Plans of Ike & Tina Turner Provide Valuable Insights: The contrasting estate plans of Tina Turner and Ike Turner serve as instructive examples of the importance of effective estate planning.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Divergent Estate Plans of Ike & Tina Turner Provide Valuable Insights

Hulk Hogan’s daughter can’t write herself out of the wrestler’s will, but she can refuse to take his money. The questions arising over who will inherit Hulk Hogan’s wealth offer important insights into how family estrangement can affect estate planning.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Hulk Hogan’s Will: a Lesson in Family Estrangement & Estate Planning

Elvis Presley’s Estate Planning Mistakes: Lessons for Us All | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Elvis Presley’s Estate Planning Mistakes: Lessons for Us All

If you’re building wealth for future generations, open communication and clear planning are just as important as investment strategies. These stories offer practical lessons for anyone hoping to pass on wealth— or simply keep their family together...
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Wealthy Families That Lost Everything Over Generational Feuds

The Will of Marlon Brando: A Lesson in Estate Planning | Inheritance Disputes | Celebrity Estates | Court Battles | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

The Will of Marlon Brando: A Lesson in Estate Planning

Dueling Trustees Battle Over Jimmy Buffett’s $275 Million Estate
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Dueling Trustees Battle Over Jimmy Buffett’s $275 Million Estate

Six Estate Planning Mistakes Celebrities Made | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong | A will isn't enough...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Six Estate Planning Mistakes Celebrities Made

Robert Redford's stunning $20m property portfolio revealed after Hollywood icon dies in his sleep aged 89
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Robert Redford’s Stunning $20m Property Portfolio

A French court has found eight people guilty of exploiting 92-year-old L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, one of the world's richest people. The verdict brings to an end a long-running case that began with a feud between Mrs Bettencourt and daughter.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

The Exploitation of L’Oreal Heiress Liliane Bettencourt

James Brown’s Estate Reaches Settlement After Nearly 15-Year Dispute | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

James Brown’s Estate Reaches Settlement After Lengthy Dispute

Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Lessons To Be Learned From Failed Celebrity Estates

Robert De Niro is said to have plans to leave his seventh child a huge bite of his fortune – leaving his other relatives peeved... De Niro's older children reportedly want an equal cut of his massive estate.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Robert De Niro Sparks ‘Family Feud’ with His Plans to Revamp Will

Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Val Kilmer’s Digital Legacy
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Val Kilmer’s Digital Legacy

Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Last Wishes: a Tale of Two Wills
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Last Wishes: a Tale of Two Wills

The true story of a multi-billion dollar art heist and how they got away with it... 2009 Documentary follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' 25 billion dollar collection of modern and post-impressionist art.
Dramatized Content Infamous Feuds

The Art of the Steal | Documentary | 2009

Agreement Reached in Dispute over Charley Pride's Will
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Agreement Reached in Dispute over Charley Pride’s Will

Exploring the legal, contractual, and federal challenges of AI-driven celebrity likeness—from state statutes to the proposed “No Fakes Act.”
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Postmortem Publicity Rights: Digital Use of Celebrity Likeness

If Hendrix had even done a simple will that properly spelled out his wishes, a large amount of the litigation would have been avoided and it would have ensured that his wishes were followed.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

The Estate of Jimi Hendrix: Decades of Drama & Costly Litigation

Director Norman Jewison's wife cut him off from family, coerced him to change $30M will, lawsuits claimed. Legal fight between filmmaker's sons, 2nd wife highlights end-of-life struggles many families face...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Family Members Clash Over Director Norman Jewison’s Estate

This full length in-depth documentary explores how some of history's wealthiest families were torn apart when their own children turned against the empires their ancestors built.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Wealthy Families Betrayed By Their Own Children: Documentary

real repercussions of inheriting real estate

Property Pitfalls

Tax Considerations for Inherited Properties: What You Need to Know | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Tax Considerations for Inherited Properties: What You Need to Know

  • February 15, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Ontario Superior Court Removes Estate Executor to Resolve Deadlock | Property Pitfalls | Family Disputes | Case Ruling | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Ontario Superior Court Removes Estate Executor to Resolve Deadlock

  • September 3, 2024
  • 1 minute read
There can be sentimental reasons to keep inherited real estate, but —unless you plan to use the property personally— you should ask yourself: would you buy that real estate with an equivalent amount of cash?
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Inheriting Real Estate: Ask Yourself “Would You Buy it?”

  • March 17, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Court Ordered Sale of Estate Lands Ends 30-Year Dispute Among Heirs | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Court Ordered Sale of Estate Lands Ends 30-Year Dispute Among Heirs

  • October 3, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Millions of US boomers are refusing to give their $84 trillion in real estate, wealth away to their adult kids — here’s why and what it means for the US economy
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

US Boomers Reassessing Priorities: Impact on Future Homeownership

  • February 12, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
Are you planning to leave real estate to a loved one under your Will? Do you want that property to be transferred free of debt or other claims? Language matters!
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Navigating Bequests of Real Estate: Language Matters!

  • August 8, 2025
  • 1 minute read
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Dying Saskatchewan Farmer’s Will Goes Down in History | Curated Content | Strange Bequests | Estates Gone Wrong

Bizarre Bequests

28
Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute with Granddaughter over Lisa Marie Presley's Estate | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates

Celebrity Estates

46
Family Conflict Results in Long-Term Estate Litigation over Secret Trust and Mutual Wills Agreement | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong

Charitable Misgivings

30
Estate Planning: 6 Big Mistakes You Might Be Making | Curated Content | Common Mistakes | Estates Gone Wrong

Common Mistakes

42
What to Do when the Executor Is Not Communicating with Beneficiaries? | Curated Content | Communication Breakdowns | Estates Gone Wrong

Communication Breakdowns

40
Top 8 Risks: The Dangers of Improper Estate Planning | Common Mistakes | Cautionary Tales | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong

Digital Distress

46
Fights Over Estates Can Tear Families Apart | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong

Family Disputes

56
Abusive Guardianships: Prevention & Taking Action

Guardian Safeguards

30
High Costs for Long-Term Care are 'Unforgivable' | Curated Content | Elder Care Nightmares | Estates Gone Wrong

Long-Term Care Crisis

32
What to Do if You Inherit a House with a Mortgage | Curated Content | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Inheriting Debt | Estates Gone Wrong

Property Pitfalls

38
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