When valid, no contest clauses can be a powerful tool for discouraging estate litigation. Typically, these clauses threaten to disinherit beneficiaries who challenge the validity of the testator’s final will...
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Beneficiary Be Disinherited Over a Successful Litigation?

  • March 18, 2026
  • 2 minutes read
Undue influence is not mere persuasion or advice. It requires coercive elements that override the testator’s free will. Courts look for a combination of susceptibility, opportunity, and improper pressure that causes the vulnerable person to act contrary to their true wishes.
Curated Content Related Resources

Proving or Disproving “Undue Influence” in Court

  • November 27, 2025
  • Less than a minute
James Gandolfini’s estate planning missteps cost $30M. The oversight in Gandolfini’s plan serves as a reminder of the risks involved in relying solely on a will— no matter how straightforward the intent.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Estate Planning Lessons from James Gandolfini’s $70 Million Estate

  • September 20, 2024
  • 1 minute read
In today’s increasingly digital world, traditional processes are being transformed by technology, and estate planning is no exception. Recent developments in technology and changes to the legal landscape are creating room for the possibility of electronic wills...
Curated Content Digital Distress

Electronic Wills: The Future of Estate Planning in Ontario

  • December 10, 2024
  • 1 minute read
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

  • March 30, 2023
  • 2 minutes read
In Ontario, the absence of a valid will can lead to complexities, uncertainties, and outcomes that may not align with your wishes.
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens if You Die without a Will in Ontario?

  • January 17, 2025
  • 1 minute read
This episode of Financial Decoder explores inheritance from both perspectives: the person planning to pass on wealth and the heir receiving it.
Curated Content Related Resources

Financial Decoder Podcast Examines “Both Sides of an Inheritance”

Successful family business succession requires balancing emotional and rational considerations, family harmony and business performance, tradition and innovation. It demands honest self-assessment, difficult conversations, and sometimes painful decisions.
Curated Content Succession Lessons

Mastering Family Business Succession Planning

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

The Digital Assets Gap in Canadian Law | Digital Distress | Obstacles People Face When Trying To Access | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Digital Distress

Digital Assets Gap: Accessing Accounts After Owner Has Passed

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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