Recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision provides an important lesson to farming families and their professional advisors: good intentions and family loyalty, while laudable, are no substitute for clear, enforceable agreements.
Curated Content Succession Lessons

Court Decision: Important Lesson for Ontario Farming Families

  • September 5, 2025
  • Less than a minute
Maybe you thought that creating a Will or Trust is something you can do once and then your family and assets are protected forever after. In reality, life events can drastically affect your estate plan and even cause your plan not to work in the way you intended.
Curated Content Life Events

10 Life Events that Signal it’s Time to Review Your Estate Plan

  • July 29, 2023
  • 1 minute read
When a Charitable Bequest in a Will Goes Wrong | Curated Content | Charitable Bequests | Estates Gone Wrong
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

When a Charitable Bequest in a Will Goes Wrong

  • November 1, 2022
  • 1 minute read
Testators should know the risks before using joint ownership as an estate planning tool. 
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Joint Ownership of Property: Know the Risks

  • February 16, 2024
  • 1 minute read
New York becomes the 13th state to authorize some form of physician-assisted dying. The law represents a major policy reversal in a state where the highest court had previously found that assisted suicide remained "unlawful"...
Curated Content Law Reform

New York Becomes 13th State to Approve Medical Aid in Dying

  • February 7, 2026
  • 1 minute read
These moments spent with a loved one during the last few hours of life are precious and profound and they can change you for the good forever. Say yes and show up to offer comfort... You won’t regret it.
Curated Content Related Resources

Comforting a Dying Loved One: What to Say…

  • March 6, 2024
  • 1 minute read
"Some businesses remain in the family. Others do not. Business owners might muse about succession within the family unit. However, musings do not always give rise to enforceable promises."
Curated Content Succession Lessons

Succession Planning for a Family Business Can Be Tricky

Just because the law allows for a testator to hand-write their own will does not make it a good idea, as a recent court decision shows. Even a harmonious family is likely to end up in court, seeking confirmation that the handwritten document was indeed a valid Holograph Will. 
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Handwritten Will Declared Invalid by Ontario Judge

Bizarre Bequests Dramatized Content

The Ultimate Gift | American Drama Film | 2006

Relatives more prepared than ever to take costly legal action to fight for what they feel is 'their due slice' of family wealth— Attempts to have a will ruled invalid have surged 61% in five years...
Curated Content Family Disputes

Family Feuds Over Inheritances Surge 61% in UK

The initial loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience all on it’s own, but the multitude of losses that follow are surprising, and just as painful. These "secondary losses" are all the messy, unexpected, complicated consequences that come after loss; they exacerbate feelings of sadness, isolation, and stress.
Curated Content Related Resources

Secondary Losses: The Ripple Effect of Losing a Loved One

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