It may be overwhelming to think about now, but asking the right questions will help you think through your plans. Here are some tips to help you manage your new inheritance. 
Curated Content Related Resources

Tips for Managing an Inheritance: Ask The Right Questions

  • September 23, 2024
  • Less than a minute
Truly Wild Inheritance Stories: From Entire Towns to Century-Old Denim
Bizarre Bequests Curated Content

Truly Wild Inheritance Stories: From Entire Towns to Century-Old Denim

  • April 12, 2025
  • Less than a minute
Losing a loved one is never easy. What makes it even harder is when this loss is compounded by uncertainty about what happens to their debts...
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

Are You Responsible for a Deceased Loved One’s Debt in Canada?

  • August 10, 2025
  • Less than a minute
When you’re no longer capable of making decisions about your health or personal care, someone must make them for you. A Power of Attorney for Personal Care is a legal document that lets someone make these decisions on your behalf.
Curated Content Related Resources

How to Make a Power of Attorney for Personal Care: Ontario

  • February 1, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
It is best to customize a will or trust to your specific situation. Sometimes you want more say in how or when your beneficiaries will acquire and use your assets. For this reason, several clauses are commonly included in wills or trusts...
Curated Content Related Resources

Types of Clauses Commonly Included in Wills or Trusts

  • April 2, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Estate planning has traditionally focused on tangible assets like real estate, bank accounts, and personal belongings. However, in a world increasingly reliant on technology, digital assets deserve the same level of attention.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Why Your Digital Assets Matter in Estate Planning

  • February 27, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Managing Digital Assets in Estate Planning | Digital Distress | Accessing Online Accounts | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Digital Distress

Managing Digital Assets in Estate Planning

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

The future is unknowable, but centering your plan on your values and communicating regularly with your fiduciary and your family will set your family on the path to success.
Curated Content Life Events

Resilient Estate Planning in The Face of Unexpected Life Events

Understand the critical differences between estate tax and inheritance tax. This guide explores both tax types, their crucial distinctions, and strategic planning approaches to potentially minimize their impact, helping you preserve more of your legacy for loved ones rather than tax authorities.
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

Inheritance Tax vs. Estate Tax: What’s the Difference?

What happens when the domestic tax rules of two different countries look at the same person and both conclude that the individual is a tax resident?
Curated Content Related Resources

Navigating Dual-Residency: Canada’s Tax Treaty Tie-Breakers

valuable lessons learned from

Communication Breakdowns
& Family Disputes

Curated Content Family Disputes

Court Rules in Favour of Common-Law Spouse: Intestate Case

  • May 28, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Disinheriting a child can tear a family apart, if —revealed only after the parent in question has died— it comes as a surprise. Much of this conflict can be avoided if the parent in question has a candid conversation with family members in advance.
Curated Content Family Disputes

Disinheriting a Child Shouldn’t Take Your Family By Surprise!

  • April 16, 2019
  • 1 minute read
In a compelling High Court decision that has stirred conversations across both the legal and familial landscapes, a £14.5 million trust dispute between two brothers has culminated in a judgment that emphasizes intention over biology.
Curated Content Family Disputes

Landmark Case Ruling in £14.5m Trust Dispute

  • July 21, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Load More
random roundup

Filter By Topic

All Celebrity Estates Family Disputes Charitable Misgivings Common Mistakes Bizarre Bequests Long-Term Care Crisis Communication Breakdowns Property Pitfalls Digital Distress Guardian Safeguards
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 Real Estate in Canada: What You Need to Know
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Inheritance Tax & Cross-Border Rules: What Canadians Need to Know

  • December 20, 2024
  • 1 minute read
This cautionary tale serves as a reminder of how important it is to carefully plan, draft, and update your Will with the help of an experienced advisor. Doing so can prevent misunderstandings and disputes, and ensure that your wishes are truly fulfilled.
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Will Interpretation: Alberta Court Decision Serves as Cautionary Tale

  • April 28, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
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

  • December 25, 2024
  • 2 minutes read
This summer, the Montana Supreme Court had to weigh in on a modern question: can a selfie video serve as a person’s last Will? The short answer was no. Stories like the Montana case can be useful teaching tools. They help illustrate that intent is only half the battle—validity is the other. 
Curated Content Digital Distress

Selfie Video Last Will and Testament? Still a Step Too Far!

  • August 28, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Common Disaster Planning and the Estates of Barry and Honey Sherman | Curated Content | Disaster Planning | Estates Gone Wrong
Bizarre Bequests Curated Content

Common Disaster Planning: The Estates of Barry & Honey Sherman

  • May 25, 2021
  • 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
Dramatized Content Family Disputes

The Inheritance | Limited Television Series | 2023

  • September 4, 2023
  • Less than a minute
Taking the time to gather all the assets and have detailed information about each item goes a long way to helping everyone understand specifics and how this affects them. A BC case recently showcased why clear language is so important to minimize potential challenges to a Will.
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Oversight for Wills: Distributing Articles & Personal Effects

  • June 26, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Effective communication with your family and loved ones is vital... The consequences of ambiguity or misalignment between intent and execution can be significant, potentially leading to legal battles that deplete trust resources and damage family relationships.
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Estate Planning Case Proves Communication is Vital

  • September 30, 2024
  • 1 minute read
There has been a rise in disputes over estates, with many of the problems linked to outdated wills or the absence of any Will at all. Rise in Will disputes prompts warning to people in their 40s and 50s...
Curated Content Family Disputes

Rise in UK Estate Disputes: The Cost of Outdated Wills

  • April 10, 2026
  • 1 minute read
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

  • September 16, 2025
  • 1 minute read
guardian safeguards + eldercare nightmares

The Importance of Planning for
Custody & Long-Term Care

What happens when parents don’t choose guardians properly? The courts step in. Your children become part of a legal process instead of seamlessly transitioning to the loving family member you had in mind. Understanding the legal framework will help you make better decisions for your family.
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

Complete Guide to Choosing a Guardian in Ontario

  • August 21, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
Aging Baby Boomers Raise the Risk of a Long-Term-Care Crisis in the U.S. | Curated Content | Elder Care | Long-Term Care | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Aging Baby Boomers Raise the Risk of a Long-Term-Care Crisis

  • November 8, 2021
  • 1 minute read
If you have kids, you need to name a guardian for them when making your will. Consider these steps to help you make this important decision.
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

5 Steps to Choosing a Guardian for Your Children

  • July 25, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Load More
Helpful Tips + Reference Guides

Related Resources

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, a flood of emotions will arise, including denial, helplessness, frustration, and fear. Here are 17 tips for how to cope with a terminal illness...
Curated Content Related Resources

Understanding Anticipatory Grief: You Are Not Alone!

  • October 19, 2023
  • 2 minutes read
Read More
LegalWills.ca highly recommends the following books: a special selection of books related to funeral, estate and financial planning.
Curated Content Related Resources

Will & Estate Planning Books: Recommended by LegalWills.ca

  • May 25, 2014
  • 1 minute read
Read More
To file a dependant support claim against an estate, you must file a Notice of Application with the court and provide supporting evidence in an affidavit, typically within six months of the estate trustee being appointed. 
Generated Content Related Resources

How to File a Dependant Support Claim Against an Estate

  • July 15, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
Read More
Wills and estate planning aren’t just for old, wealthy people. Every adult needs a plan. You’ll feel more confident about your future after you’ve made these decisions and communicated them to the people you care about most.
Curated Content Related Resources

Estate Planning: Six Steps to Getting Started

  • July 24, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Read More
Load More

Recent Posts

With the right strategies, you can avoid making financial mistakes and instead ensure most of what you want to leave behind lands in the correct hands...
July 23, 2026

End-of-Life Tax Strategies: Leaving More For Your Heirs

July 23, 2026

New US Tax Laws That Could Impact What Your Heirs Receive

Not planning your life around legacy? You're not alone. A growing wave of single and child-free retirees is unapologetically putting their own needs first. Don't forget to protect yourself by planning for the "What Ifs"...
July 17, 2026

No Heirs? Protect Yourself, Before You ‘Blow Your Nest Egg’!

The Court of Appeal recently released a decision dismissing appeals against conviction of a former Toronto police officer who fabricated the last will and testament of Heinz Siegfried Sommerfeld to benefit the police officer.
July 15, 2026

Consequences of ‘Stealing’ an Estate: Ontario Fraudulent Will Case

Directory Listings

Our global curated content roundup is intended for information purposes only. We do not provide advisory services nor do we purport to offer direct legal advice. If you offer professional estate planning advisement, administration, or legal services, we welcome and encourage you to apply for a paid profile placement in our upcoming directory listings.

Share Your Profile
Infamous Feuds + Celebrity Estates

Cautionary Tales

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

Gore-Tex Heiress, Susan Gore, has been denied the right to adopt her 65-year-old ex-husband as a means to boost her family's inheritance fortune.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Court Ruling: Heiress Cannot Adopt Ex-Husband for Inheritance

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

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

The Anna Nicole Smith estate saga is more than just a celebrity courtroom drama; it's a cautionary tale with lessons for everyone, according to attorney John Levy. 
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Case Study: Anna Nicole Smith Estate Saga Offers Lessons for All

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

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

Inheritance Mishaps from the Rich and Famous

Jay Pritzker quietly built a $15 billion empire of more than 200 companies, including Hyatt Hotels Corp., and a network of 1,000 family trusts.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Pritzker Family Settles Dispute with $900 Million Agreement

Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Lessons To Be Learned From Failed Celebrity Estates

Who inherited Jimi Hendrix’s estate? The answer is more complicated than many might assume. This article explores the distribution of his fortune, the legal disputes that followed, and who ultimately controls his estate today...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Legendary Legal Battle: The Heavily Contested Estate of Jimi Hendrix

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

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”

TV Chef Blew £2.8million Inheritance: Leaves Only £33k to Family
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

TV Chef Blew £2.8million Inheritance: Leaves Only £33k to Family

Battles over Marilyn Monroe's estate shed light on the challenges of protecting intellectual property rights posthumously. Disputes emerged over the ownership and commercial use of her image and likeness. 
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Marilyn Monroe’s Estate Continues to Make People Rich… But Who???

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

The Legacy of Bob Ross: Lessons in Succession Planning
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

The Legacy of Bob Ross: Lessons in Succession Planning

Murdoch Family Legal Battle Highlights a Harsh Reality: No Trust is Airtight | Family Disputes | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Murdoch Family Legal Battle: “No Trust is Airtight!”

Mercedes Kilmer addresses mixed reactions to her late Father's precedent-setting AI-generated posthumous performance in "As Deep as the Grave"...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Kilmer’s Daughter Defends Late Father’s AI-Generated Performance

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

Bitter family feuds and succession battles are not new to the Canadian business landscape. In fact, some of Canada’s most prominent family-owned firms have had very public brawls...
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Canada’s History of Family Firm Feuds Rivals “Succession”

Suit claimed Dudesy podcast violated Carlin’s copyright, calling it ‘a casual theft of a great American artist’s work’... The lawsuit was one of the first in the US to focus on the legality of deepfakes imitating a celebrity’s likeness.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

George Carlin’s Estate Settles Lawsuit Over “AI Doppelganger”

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

The backlash against AI-generated 'resurrections' of deceased celebrities underscores the urgent need for a robust ethical and legal framework to govern the use of digital likenesses, particularly after an individual's passing.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Backlash Against AI ‘Resurrections’ of Deceased Celebrities

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

Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Val Kilmer’s Digital Legacy

The estate of Hulk Hogan is pushing back forcefully against a claim that seeks $10 million over the origins of the wrestler's branded beer business, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Hulk Hogan’s Heirs Wrestling with $10 Million Beer Brand Lawsuit

Inside Billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s Family Trust Battle
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Inside Billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s Family Trust Battle

Glastonbury Founder Could Avoid £80m in Inheritance Tax
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Glastonbury Founder Could Avoid £80m in Inheritance Tax

This dramatic feud over inheriting a family-owned winery drove a wedge between four siblings and led to a landmark penalty over the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in court. 
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Feud Over Family-Owned 80-Acre Winery Turns Sour

real repercussions of inheriting real estate

Property Pitfalls

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
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?

  • August 5, 2022
  • 1 minute read
Leaving a cherished family home to your children might seem like a loving and generous gesture, but —without proper planning— it can quickly become a source of conflict and stress.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Leaving Property to Multiple Heirs: a Recipe for Family Conflict

  • July 1, 2025
  • 1 minute read
If you are considering adding someone to the title of your home for estate planning purposes, it is essential to seek professional guidance in order to mitigate the risks of doing so...
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

How Using Joint Tenancy as an Estate Planning Tool Can Go Wrong

  • April 16, 2025
  • 2 minutes 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
Leaving your house to your children can be a meaningful way to pass on your legacy, but it is important to consider all aspects of it.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Factors to Consider Before Leaving Your House to Your Children

  • November 4, 2024
  • Less than a minute
Load More

Explore Topics

Dying Saskatchewan Farmer’s Will Goes Down in History | Curated Content | Strange Bequests | Estates Gone Wrong

Bizarre Bequests

30
Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute with Granddaughter over Lisa Marie Presley's Estate | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates

Celebrity Estates

56
Family Conflict Results in Long-Term Estate Litigation over Secret Trust and Mutual Wills Agreement | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong

Charitable Misgivings

32
Estate Planning: 6 Big Mistakes You Might Be Making | Curated Content | Common Mistakes | Estates Gone Wrong

Common Mistakes

52
What to Do when the Executor Is Not Communicating with Beneficiaries? | Curated Content | Communication Breakdowns | Estates Gone Wrong

Communication Breakdowns

42
Top 8 Risks: The Dangers of Improper Estate Planning | Common Mistakes | Cautionary Tales | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong

Digital Distress

56
Fights Over Estates Can Tear Families Apart | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong

Family Disputes

68
Abusive Guardianships: Prevention & Taking Action

Guardian Safeguards

36
High Costs for Long-Term Care are 'Unforgivable' | Curated Content | Elder Care Nightmares | Estates Gone Wrong

Long-Term Care Crisis

36
What to Do if You Inherit a House with a Mortgage | Curated Content | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Inheriting Debt | Estates Gone Wrong

Property Pitfalls

54
Story Submissions

We know, this can be a very sensitive topic. If you have a personal story or a cautionary tale —a link to a specific article, blog post, or recommended resource that you found particularly helpful in your own estate planning and administration journey— anonymous submissions are welcomed and encouraged.

Share Your Story