Alleged Undue Influence & Incapacity Dismissed by Ontario Superior Court
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Alleged Undue Influence & Incapacity Dismissed by Court

  • September 5, 2024
  • 2 minutes read
Family Giving: From Personal Tragedy to Family Legacy | Charitable Bequests | Philanthropy | Estates Gone Wrong
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Family Giving: From Personal Tragedy to Family Legacy

  • December 22, 2023
  • Less than a minute
Why Transparency Matters: The Importance Of Open Dialogue | Curated Content | Communication Breakdowns | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Why Transparency Matters: The Importance Of Open Dialogue

  • September 12, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Almost half of all Canadians lack estate plans, leaving financial and medical decisions uncertain: Scotiatrust survey reveals gaps in wills and power of attorney documents, leaving key decisions unmade...
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Scotiatrust Estate Planning Survey Finds Canadians Unprepared

  • February 7, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Groundbreaking Estate Decisions in 2024 & 2025
Curated Content Family Disputes

Groundbreaking Estate Decisions Released in 2024 & 2025

  • April 23, 2025
  • 3 minutes read
Does the Court Have Jurisdiction to Terminate a Charitable Trust? The answer to the question is Yes. But the jurisdiction must be exercised sparingly and not indiscriminately.
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Does the Court Have Jurisdiction to Terminate a Charitable Trust?

  • February 14, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Family Cottage Succession: a Dream or a Nightmare? No matter how much you may intend to keep the property in the family, you should plan for the almost certain inevitability that at some point it will be sold.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Shared Ownership in The Family Cottage: a Dream or a Nightmare?

Groundbreaking Estate Decisions in 2024 & 2025
Curated Content Family Disputes

Groundbreaking Estate Decisions Released in 2024 & 2025

Estate Planning Services: Has the AI Revolution Arrived?
Curated Content Digital Distress

Estate Planning Services: Has the AI Revolution Already Arrived?

Preventing Loved Ones from Internet Scams: Powers of Attorney
Curated Content Digital Distress

Preventing Loved Ones from Internet Scams: Powers of Attorney

Transferring Property Title to a Trustee: Step-by-Step Guide
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Transferring Property Title to a Trustee: Step-by-Step Guide

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& Family Disputes

The Finality of Probate: Limits on Subsequent Proceedings
Curated Content Family Disputes

The Finality of Probate: Limits on Subsequent Proceedings

  • April 29, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Navigating Inheritance Disputes Between Siblings | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Ontario Law | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Family Disputes

Navigating Inheritance Disputes Between Siblings

  • March 18, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Inheritance disputes are as old as time, but in recent years, there’s been an increase in families embroiled in legal arguments. Here are the various stances on inheritance disputes, 2024 statistics, and the demographics of those discussing the topic online. 
Curated Content Family Disputes

Inheritance Dispute Statistics: 2024 Rising Trends

  • October 18, 2024
  • 1 minute read
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Five Famous Families Undermined by Sibling Conflict | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Family Disputes

Five Famous Families Undermined by Sibling Conflict

  • June 29, 2022
  • 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
Executor on the Case: Becoming a Detective for Missing Assets | Much has been written on the topic of missing heirs: how to find them, and what to do if you can’t. But what happens if you have missing assets? How do you practically move forward with an estate administration when you don’t know, well, what assets you’re administering?
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Executor on the Case: Becoming a Detective for Missing Assets

  • February 14, 2025
  • Less than a minute
Ottawa Mother's Quest for Late Son's Passwords: An Uncharted Legal Road | Digital Distress | Accessing Online Accounts | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Digital Distress

Mother’s Quest for Late Son’s Passwords: An Uncharted Legal Road

  • May 8, 2020
  • 1 minute read
What Are the Consequences of Not Planning for Long-Term Care? | Curated Content | Elder Care Nightmares | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

The Consequences of Not Planning for Long-Term Care

  • January 22, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Long-Term Care Statistics: Make Informed Decisions | Elder Care | Health Care Costs | Statistics | Retirement Planning | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Long-Term Care Statistics: Make Informed Decisions

  • July 25, 2024
  • 1 minute read
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

  • March 5, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Groundbreaking Estate Decisions in 2024 & 2025
Curated Content Family Disputes

Groundbreaking Estate Decisions Released in 2024 & 2025

  • April 23, 2025
  • 3 minutes read
Stan Lee, the iconic co-creator of Marvel superheroes, became center of a high-profile elder abuse lawsuit...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Elder Abuse Lawsuit Against Stan Lee’s Ex-Manager

  • May 9, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Fights Over Estates Can Tear Families Apart | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Family Disputes

Fights Over Estates Can Tear Families Apart

  • November 12, 2021
  • 1 minute read
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Top 10 Estate Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  • May 24, 2024
  • Less than a minute
Special Needs Adults: Presumption of Capacity & Individual Rights | Can a court make a parenting order for an adult child living with a disability without giving them an opportunity to participate in the proceeding?
Curated Content Family Disputes

Special Needs Adults: Presumption of Capacity & Individual Rights

  • December 12, 2024
  • 1 minute read
guardian safeguards + eldercare nightmares

The Importance of Planning for
Custody & Long-Term Care

Legal issues faced by the elderly population arise in almost all areas of legal practice; however, most commonly in real estate law, family law, human rights law, and wills and estates law.
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Power of Attorney & Estate Planning: Elder Law Canada

  • June 21, 2024
  • 1 minute read
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Naming a Guardian for Your Children
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Naming a Guardian for Your

  • October 2, 2024
  • 1 minute read
One way to plan financially for long-term care is to create a trust. It can be an incredibly useful tool to protect your assets if you become incapacitated and to shield your assets to qualify for certain long-term care benefits.
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

How to Use a Trust to Plan for Long-Term Care

  • January 23, 2023
  • 1 minute read
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Rich and Famous

Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Lessons To Be Learned From Failed Celebrity Estates

  • June 29, 2021
  • Less than a minute
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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

  • July 11, 2023
  • Less than a minute
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Estate Planning Mistakes of the Rich and Famous | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Estate Planning Mistakes of the Rich and Famous

  • April 13, 2022
  • Less than a minute
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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
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Estate Planning Horror Stories: 5 Nightmare Scenarios that Will Scare You into Action | Curated Content | Estates Gone Wrong
March 26, 2021

Estate Planning Horror Stories: 5 Nightmare Scenarios

The Top 10 Estate Battles Of All Time | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong
April 1, 2023

Probate Disputes: The Top 10 Estate Battles Of All Time

Estate Planning Mistakes of the Rich and Famous | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong
April 13, 2022

Estate Planning Mistakes of the Rich and Famous

Inheritance Mishaps from the Rich and Famous | Canadian Family Offices | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
November 27, 2023

Inheritance Mishaps from the Rich and Famous

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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

Can You Contest a Will That Leaves Your Parent’s Money to a Charity? When Should You Contest Your Parent’s Charitable Will Bequest?
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Can You Contest a Will that Leaves Your Parent’s Money to a Charity?

Family Business Succession Planning: A Canadian Guide
Curated Content Succession Strategies

Family Business Succession Planning: A Canadian Guide

Validity Requirements for Last Wills and Testaments in Ontario
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Validity Requirements for Last Wills and Testaments in Ontario

Friends Turned Foes: Application of the Limitations Act on Informal Loans | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Family Disputes

Informal Loan Agreements: Goodwill is Not a Guarantee

Everything You Need To Know About Probate in Canada | While it’s not you who handles probate—rather, it’s your executor who handles it after you pass away—it’s important to understand why having a will makes probate easier.
Curated Content Legacy Lexicon

Everything You Need To Know About Probate in Canada

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

Strategies to Reduce Your Final Tax Return | Could paying a little more now provide significant relief on your final tax return upon death?
Curated Content Planning Resources

Strategies to Reduce Your Final Tax Return: Canada

Just crafting a will isn’t enough... You need to keep it up-to-date and make changes after certain events occur to ensure that your assets will be distributed according to your wishes. Updating your will can also help prevent family squabbles over inheritance down the road.
Curated Content Life Events

Crafting a Will is Not Enough: Why You Need to Revisit Your Estate Plan

What Is an Executor? Duties and Role in Estate Planning | An executor is the individual who carries out one's last will, ensuring that the stipulations and wishes of the deceased are carried out properly.
Curated Content Legacy Lexicon

What Is an Executor? Duties and Role in Estate Planning

Probate Nightmares: The Dangers of Properties Taken Out of Trust | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Probate Nightmares: The Dangers of Properties Taken Out of Trust

When Caretakers Empty the Coffers: A Look at Guardianship Fraud
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

When Caretakers Empty the Coffers: A Look at Guardianship Fraud

Woman Dies Homeless Unaware of $800k Inheritance | Curated Content | Unclaimed Inheritance | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Woman Dies Homeless Unaware of $800k Inheritance

Even Canadians who don’t consider themselves snowbirds may own property south of the border or have other U.S. based assets that could impact their planning.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Snowbirds: Is Your Cross-border Property in Your Estate Plan?

As we grow older and enter retirement, we face many LIFE-CHANGING decisions. We must consider long-term care, financial well-being, and, ultimately, our end-of-life planning. Fortunately, there are legislations in place to protect the rights and interests of older individuals.
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Elder Care Law: A Comprehensive Guide for Families

Ontario Executors: Glossary of Terms | Are you stuck trying to understand some of the terms you run across as an Ontario Executor? No need to Google them. Here's an "A to Z" list —in plain English— to help. These Ontario Executor Terms Keep You Out of Hot Water. 
Curated Content Legacy Lexicon

Ontario Executors: Comprehensive Glossary of Terms

From tax laws to tax liabilities, there are so many things to consider. Goals include protecting inheritances for heirs, minimizing estate taxes, avoiding the probate process, and appointing the right trustee. But how do you navigate this complex process?
Curated Content Planning Resources

High-Net-Worth Estate Planning: Quick Guide

When Inheritance Divides: The Strain of Sibling Disputes Over Estate Debts
Curated Content Family Disputes

The Strain of Sibling Disputes Over Estate Debts: a Cautionary Tale

A holographic will is a handwritten and testator-signed document and is an alternative to a will produced by a lawyer. Being of sound mind is a crucial provision in determining the validity of a holographic will. Some states do not recognize holographic wills.
Curated Content Legacy Lexicon

Holographic Will: Definition and State Requirements

The evolution of digital estate planning laws reflects our increasingly online lives, where valuable and sentimental digital property requires the same careful legal consideration traditionally given to physical assets. State legislatures are working to bridge the gap between traditional estate planning and the unique challenges posed by digital inheritance.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Digital & Online Estate Planning Laws: State-by-State

Today’s Executor is a Digital Executor | Digital Distress | Online Accounts | Estate Planning | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Digital Distress

In Today’s Digital World, Every Executor is a Digital Executor

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

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

Signs and Symptoms of Caregiver Stress and Burnout
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

Signs and Symptoms of Caregiver Stress and Burnout

Estate Planning Legal: Frequently Asked Questions
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

Estate Planning Legal: Frequently Asked Questions

Curated Content Family Disputes

Why Families Fight Over Inheritance and How to Avoid it

Digital Estate Planning Guide: Get Your Assets in Order | Digital Distress | Online Accounts | Estate Planning | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Digital Distress

Digital Estate Planning Guide: Get Your Assets in Order

real repercussions of inheriting real estate

Property Pitfalls

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

What to Do if You Inherit a House with a Mortgage

  • August 27, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Selling Inherited Property: Tips for Executors and Beneficiaries | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Selling Inherited Property: Tips for Executors and Beneficiaries

  • August 29, 2022
  • 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
Inheriting a Property With Your Siblings: What Are Your Options? | Family Disputes | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Inheriting a Property With Your Siblings: What Are Your Options?

  • May 30, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Sibling Living in Inherited Property: Refuses To Sell
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Sibling Living in Inherited Property: Refuses To Sell

  • June 1, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Transferring Property Title to a Trustee: Step-by-Step Guide
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Transferring Property Title to a Trustee: Step-by-Step Guide

  • September 13, 2024
  • 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

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

Celebrity Estates

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

Charitable Misgivings

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

Common Mistakes

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

Communication Breakdowns

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

Digital Distress

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

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Abusive Guardianships: Prevention & Taking Action

Guardian Safeguards

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

Long-Term Care Crisis

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

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Story Submissions

Estate Gone Wrong?

We know, it is a very sensitive topic. Anonymous submissions are welcomed and encouraged. We just want to help you tell your cautionary tale.

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