This article will discuss three of the main types of IP rights in Canada and explore why having a will is essential for dealing with IP after death and for safeguarding IP assets for future generations.
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Estate Planning For Intellectual Property Protection

  • January 28, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Ever thought about gifting a property to your children? I recently had this very discussion with my own aging parents. This resulted in some important discussions about our family home, their goals and consideration for the tax outcomes of any decisions made...
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Transferring the Family Home: Considerations for Canadians

  • December 4, 2025
  • 1 minute read
If you’ve been named a beneficiary of an estate, it’s essential to understand an executor’s powers and limitations. Knowing what an executor can and cannot do will help you identify potential misconduct and protect your inheritance.
Beneficiary Rights Curated Content

Every Beneficiary Should Know What an Executor Can and Cannot Do

  • May 13, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Life-altering events may be unexpected, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan for them. While no succession plan is foolproof, you can stay on track if you craft your succession plans with the 5 Ds in mind...
Curated Content Succession Lessons

Life is Unpredictable: The “5 Ds” of Succession Planning

  • January 28, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Whether you own a cottage, a family home, or any other high-value asset, working with an experienced estate lawyer to craft clear, specific, and regularly updated instructions is not just good practice — it is essential.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Why Cottage Estates Are a Breeding Ground for Family Conflict

  • March 22, 2026
  • 1 minute read
Life Insurance can be used as an extremely useful estate-planning tool that can go far beyond keeping your family financially secure. It can help maximize your estate’s value and ensure that your will is distributed fairly, all while funding your estate’s tax liabilities.
Curated Content Tax-Smart Strategies

Estate Preservation Strategies: The Tax Benefits of Life Insurance

  • May 15, 2024
  • Less than a minute
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

Cost of Care Calculator & Long-Term Care Options: By State
Curated Content Related Resources

Cost of Care Calculator & Long-Term Care Options: By State

A successful dependant support application requires clear, detailed and credible evidence. This article explores these requirements, highlighting key principles from recent case law.
Curated Content Related Resources

Burden of Proof: Building a Strong Dependant Support Claim

Learn the critical reasons why a will alone is insufficient for a comprehensive estate plan, and why incorporating trusts, beneficiary designations and incapacity planning is essential to ensure a seamless and protected transfer of your assets to your loved ones.
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Relying Solely on a Will? It Could Be a Costly Mistake!

Trusts are versatile planning vehicles that can help Canadians protect what they’ve built, plan for the future and support the people and causes they care about – regardless of their net worth.
Curated Content Related Resources

Wealth Preservation: The Role of Trusts in Estate Planning

valuable lessons learned from

Communication Breakdowns
& Family Disputes

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
Dramatized Content Family Disputes

The Descendants | Comedy-Drama Film | 2011

  • September 10, 2011
  • 1 minute read
Estate planning plays a crucial role in crime dramas like The Sixth Commandment, where financial manipulation and inheritance fraud drive the plot.
Dramatized Content Family Disputes

The Sixth Commandment | True Crime Drama | 2023

  • July 17, 2023
  • 1 minute read
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All Celebrity Estates Family Disputes Charitable Misgivings Common Mistakes Bizarre Bequests Long-Term Care Crisis Communication Breakdowns Property Pitfalls Digital Distress Guardian Safeguards
Consideration of digital assets is now a necessary part of a complete estate plan. This is a rapidly evolving area of the law, and one that is increasing in importance each year. On the bright side, it presents an excellent reason to think about the things that mean the most in your life...
Curated Content Digital Distress

Navigating the Digital Afterlife: Your Online Legacy

  • September 26, 2023
  • 2 minutes read
Did you know that in 2022 the Bank of Canada (BoC) and a few large provinces had unclaimed bank accounts and estates totaling $1.8 billion dollars? That number keeps growing, despite the government’s best efforts to find the owners.
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Hidden Wealth: Unclaimed Assets & Accounts in Canada

  • March 2, 2025
  • Less than a minute
Without a plan, families often face roadblocks. Passwords are lost, accounts are locked, and privacy policies can make recovery difficult or impossible. A formal approach to protecting digital assets ensures that your legacy is preserved and your wishes respected.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Digital Asset Management: How to Safeguard Your Online Legacy

  • November 21, 2025
  • 1 minute read
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

  • May 30, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Inheritance Wars— More Families Fight Over Money | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Probate | Court Battles | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Family Disputes

Family Inheritance Wars “On The Rise” in the UK

  • March 18, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Curated Content Family Disputes

Litigation Over Lost Will Depletes ‘Very Modest’ Estate

  • August 30, 2024
  • 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
Paris Jackson has gone public with allegations that the longtime trustees of her late father’s estate have been misappropriating funds and mismanaging one of the most valuable entertainment empires in history.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Jackson Estate: Is Michael’s Daughter Receiving Terrible Advice?

  • May 8, 2026
  • 1 minute read
Lawyers Alison and Jillian Barrett, from Maurice Blackburn, tackle problems everyday Aussies face. In this article, they address the following question– posed by a woman who 'isn't happy with her inheritance'.
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Mum’s $20k Inheritance Gift to Charity ‘Upsets’ Daughter: Australia

  • April 25, 2025
  • 1 minute read
America's Elder Care Crisis is Here— And We're Not Ready | Long-Term Care | Elder Care | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

America’s Elder Care Crisis is Here & We’re Not Ready

  • December 15, 2023
  • 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
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
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
Abusive Guardianships: Prevention & Taking Action
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

Abusive Guardianships: Prevention & Taking Action

  • September 19, 2023
  • 1 minute read
In What Circumstances Can an Attorney for Personal Care Restrict Visitors from Visiting an Incapacitated Person in a Long-Term Care Home?
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Can a Power of Attorney for Personal Care Restrict Visits?

  • September 23, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
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Helpful Tips + Reference Guides

Related Resources

Trusts are versatile planning vehicles that can help Canadians protect what they’ve built, plan for the future and support the people and causes they care about – regardless of their net worth.
Curated Content Related Resources

Wealth Preservation: The Role of Trusts in Estate Planning

  • June 23, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Read More
If you have financial ties in multiple countries, your U.S. estate plan may not be enough. This article —How Living Abroad Can Complicate Your Estate Plan— covers five ways international ties can complicate your best-laid plans...
Curated Content Related Resources

Five Ways International Ties Can Complicate Your Estate Plan

  • November 14, 2025
  • Less than a minute
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Whether you own a family business, hold employee stock options, or maintain a diverse portfolio, professional guidance ensures your stock investments benefit your chosen beneficiaries exactly as you intend. Don't leave the future of your valuable corporate stock to chance...
Curated Content Related Resources

Corporate Stock Requires Special Attention in Your Estate Plan

  • August 6, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
Read More
Losing a parent is one of life's most profound sorrows. For those in their 20s and 30s, this loss can feel particularly disorienting. As you navigate this complex journey, this guide offers compassionate support and practical coping strategies...
Curated Content Related Resources

Losing a Parent in Your 20s and 30s: Navigating Young Adult Grief

  • March 14, 2026
  • 1 minute read
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Recent Posts

Inheriting a collection is a significant emotional and financial event. It connects us to our past, to loved ones, and to histories that may span generations. Yet, it also presents a daunting challenge: how to decide what to keep and what to sell. 
May 30, 2026

Inherited Collectibles: Practical Tips for Deciding What to Keep or Sell

Over the past decade, a caregiving crisis has been building in the workplace. Currently, 35% of the Canadian workforce or 8 million people, are struggling and juggling their work responsibilities with caregiving duties.
May 25, 2026

Caregiving Crisis at Work: Millions of Canadians Struggling

When New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Medical Aid in Dying Act into law on Feb. 6, 2026, she included an unusual provision: patients requesting medical aid in dying must make an audio or video recording of their oral request...
May 21, 2026

Medical Aid in Dying: New York State’s Unusual New Requirement

Discretionary trusts can be an effective way to provide for beneficiaries without granting them fixed entitlements. However, these structures can create uncertainty for beneficiaries... Understanding the legal framework is critical for both sides.
May 21, 2026

Ontario Guide to Discretionary Trusts and Beneficiary Rights

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.

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Infamous Feuds + Celebrity Estates

Cautionary Tales

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

The infamous inheritance battle for Koch Industries involved the four sons of Fred Koch — William, Frederick, Charles, and David — who feuded for nearly two decades over the control and ownership of the family company. 
Generated Content Infamous Feuds

Infamous 20-Year-Long Inheritance Battle: Koch Industries

Billionaire Family Feuds: The 7 Biggest Disputes
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Billionaire Family Feuds: Seven High-Profile Disputes

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

These heiresses —Evalyn Walsh McLean, Catherine Tylney-Long, Christina Onassis, Barbara Hutton, and Barbara Baekland— learned that some prices are too high to pay, even when you can afford anything money can buy.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

The Cursed Fortunes That Destroyed Their Heiresses

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 legal dispute between Danny Bennett, the eldest son of Tony Bennett, and his sisters, Antonia and Johanna Bennett, has intensified in court.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Tony Bennett’s Kids in Legal Battle: Estate & Trust Dispute

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

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

Family in Legal Battle with Housekeeper over Richard Simmons' Estate
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Richard Simmons’ Estate: Family in Legal Battle with Housekeeper

Thirty paintings created by the bushy-haired, soft-spoken Bob Ross will soon be up for auction to defray the costs of programming for small and rural public television stations suffering under cuts in federal funding.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Bob Ross Paintings to be Auctioned to Support Public TV Stations

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

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

Succession-style feud settled as court sides with Edward Rogers: The fight for Rogers Communications has riven one of Canada’s richest families— and it began with an accidental 'butt dial'...
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Succession-Style Feud: The Fight for Rogers Communications

Following the death of Ozzy Osbourne, headlines turned to an alleged change to his will, in which Ozzy stipulated that his widow, Sharon, is to receive a dozen black roses a week for the rest of her life...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Ozzy Osbourne’s “Black Roses” Request

Celebrity Estates Curated Content

What We Can Learn From Celebrity Estate Planning Gone Wrong

Estate planning becomes more complicated when assets, citizenship and tax rules extend beyond a single country. In this episode of Celebrity Estates, David Lenok speaks with Martin Behn about these challenges.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Celebrity Estates Podcast: Cross-Border Planning Lessons

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 longstanding feud among the heirs of Sol Goldman’s vast New York real estate fortune has reignited. This is the latest chapter in a family conflict that dates back to the 1980s... 
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

NYC Real Estate Dynasty Heirs Intensify Feud Over Property Empire

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

Few narrative devices expose human venality with the precision of inheritance theft. This collection of ten films rigorously examines the subgenre to explore the psychological and legal intricacies of usurped fortunes.
Dramatized Content Infamous Feuds

Estate Disputes & Inheritance Theft Themes Explored in 10 Films

Controversial Prince Documentary Cancelled Over Estate Dispute
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Controversial Prince Documentary Cancelled Over Estate Dispute

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!”

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 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

real repercussions of inheriting real estate

Property Pitfalls

The right planning can ensure you pass down your home without your kids facing large tax liabilities. Here's a simple guide to how it works...
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

How to Leave Property to Your Kids Tax-Free

  • September 10, 2025
  • Less than a minute
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
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
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
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
Trying to figure out the best way to pass your home to your children? Making the right choice between a gift or trust can save your family money and headaches in the long run.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Gift or Trust? The ‘Correct Way’ to Pass Your Home to Your Children

  • January 17, 2025
  • Less than a minute
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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

44
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

54
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

50
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