The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings major changes to the U.S. tax system and some of those changes create important estate planning opportunities for Canadians who own property or investments in the United States.
Curated Content Tax-Smart Strategies

U.S. Estate Tax Planning for Canadians with Cross-Border Assets

  • August 5, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Not all couples want to be married, but there are some legal benefits that come with a government-recognized union. Unmarried couples should consider the following 9 Estate Planning tips...
Curated Content Related Resources

Estate Planning Tips for Unmarried Couples: United States

  • July 11, 2025
  • Less than a minute
While beneficiaries have many rights, the reality of probate can still create challenges. Navigating these obstacles is often more manageable when you know what to expect. 
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

What Rights Do Beneficiaries Have During Probate?

  • March 5, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Companies that start taking steps today to put succession plans in place for key tech leadership roles will be able to future-proof themselves and stand out in the market.
Curated Content Succession Lessons

Strategic Succession Planning for Key Tech Leadership Roles

  • August 22, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Failing to include cryptocurrency in your estate plan can create serious problems. This article explains how cryptocurrency fits into an estate plan, what tools are available, and how to protect your digital assets for the people you care about.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Why Cryptocurrency Estate Planning Is No Longer Optional

  • February 4, 2026
  • 1 minute read
If you’re wondering, “Do I need an estate attorney?”—chances are, the answer is yes. You don’t need to be wealthy or elderly. Estate planning is about control, not age. It gives you a say in who handles your affairs and inherits your assets, rather than leaving it up to the courts.
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

How Will I Know If I Need To Hire An Estate Planning Attorney?

  • April 19, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
Dive a little deeper into the most common questions that people are asking online about estates, probate, and the role of the executor... RBC's "Matters Beyond Wealth" podcast : Episode 54
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Being an Executor in Canada

There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so the strategy that’s right for you may not be appropriate for someone else. That’s why you should seek legal and tax advice when incorporating charitable or philanthropic giving into your estate plan.
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Have You Built Charity & Philanthropy into Your Estate Plan?

Leaving behind a thoughtful estate plan that you’ve discussed beforehand with your loved ones will ensure that they won’t be burdened with unnecessary stress during an already difficult time. Here’s what you need to know about planning ahead in Ontario.
Curated Content Related Resources

Complete Guide to Planning Your Estate: Ontario

Your pets depend on you and planning for their future is a meaningful way to ensure they continue to receive the love and care they deserve, even after you’re gone.
Curated Content Related Resources

Financial Support & Care: Planning for Pets in Your Will

Groundbreaking Estate Decisions in 2024 & 2025
Curated Content Family Disputes

Groundbreaking Estate Litigation Decisions

valuable lessons learned from

Communication Breakdowns
& Family Disputes

On occasions a will may have been prepared in such a manner that it is not clear precisely what the testator intended. Competing interpretations can often lead to a dispute between parties...
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

What Happens When a Will is Vague or Ambiguous?

  • March 19, 2025
  • 1 minute read
What do these Inheritance Horror Stories have in common? Every single one of them could have been prevented with a simple conversation and some thoughtful legal planning. Let’s make sure your story doesn’t become someone else’s cautionary tale...
Curated Content Family Disputes

Legal Planning Lessons from Real-Life Inheritance Horror Stories

  • July 3, 2025
  • 1 minute read
5 Estate Planning Lessons From ‘House Of The Dragon’ | Curated Content | Communication Breakdowns | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

5 Estate Planning Lessons From ‘House Of The Dragon’

  • June 16, 2024
  • 1 minute read
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Courts could use artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up probate, but digitizing documents and training a new AI model is labour intensive.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Could AI Speed Up Uncontested Probate Applications?

  • February 4, 2025
  • 1 minute read
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
Curated Content Family Disputes

Why Families Fight Over Inheritance and How to Avoid it

  • May 17, 2022
  • 1 minute read
Don’t Wait to Communicate Your Estate Plan | Three Reasons | Curated Content | Communication Breakdowns | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

The Importance of Communicating Your Estate Plan: 3 Big Reasons

  • July 8, 2024
  • Less than a minute
Being named as a guardian is a significant responsibility, and it is perfectly acceptable to decline if you are unable or unwilling to take on this role. If you're unsure, have an open conversation with the parents to discuss their expectations and your concerns. 
Generated Content Guardian Safeguards

Appointed as Guardian? Yes! You Can Decline This Role

  • June 23, 2025
  • 1 minute read
How do you approach estate planning if your property is divided between Florida and another country? Don’t assume Florida and Canada have the same laws! Consider putting your Florida property into a Trust...
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Florida Estate Planning for Canadian Snowbirds

  • December 18, 2024
  • Less than a minute
The New Charity Funding Crisis: Aid & Education at Risk
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

The New Charity Funding Crisis: Aid & Education at Risk

  • February 20, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Undue influence is a high legal threshold to meet. If you believe that your loved one has been subject to undue influence in drafting their Will, what can you do about it?
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Undue Influence Concerns: Beware a Sudden Change of Heart

  • April 4, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Estate litigation lawyers across Canada are seeing a steady increase in undue influence estate disputes. Families are more frequently questioning whether a will truly reflects a loved one’s wishes or whether someone exerted pressure behind the scenes.
Curated Content Family Disputes

Steady Increase in Undue Influence Estate Disputes in Canada

  • March 23, 2026
  • Less than a minute
Val Kilmer's AI resurrection in 'As Deep as the Grave' is Hollywood's first posthumous performance— and the ethical questions are just starting. Every estate that controls a deceased actor's likeness rights is now watching...
Curated Content Digital Distress

Val Kilmer’s AI Resurrection: Legal, But… Not “Precedent-Proof”

  • March 26, 2026
  • 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
Here are nine things to do – and not do – when selecting guardians for a minor child or children.
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

Choosing a Guardian for a Minor Child: 9 Important Considerations

  • January 4, 2023
  • 1 minute read
guardian safeguards + eldercare nightmares

The Importance of Planning for
Custody & Long-Term Care

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

Signs and Symptoms of Caregiver Stress and Burnout

  • January 16, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Being a guardian comes with a significant amount of responsibility. The purpose of this blog post is to outline the guardianship process and to answer frequently asked questions on the subject of guardianship...
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

Guardianship: Responsibilities and Frequently Asked Questions

  • December 7, 2023
  • 1 minute read
The UK is tackling its long-term care crisis through increased funding, leveraging technology, strengthening the social care workforce, and supporting informal carers.
Generated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

How is the UK Tackling its Long-Term Care Crisis?

  • September 22, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
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Helpful Tips + Reference Guides

Related Resources

Comprehensive estate planning requires careful thought and conversation with your spouse or life partner. Before meeting with an estate planning attorney, it is best to discuss your ideas to present a united goal. 
Curated Content Related Resources

Talking to Your Spouse or Partner About Estate Planning

  • November 28, 2023
  • 2 minutes read
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A Letter of Wishes is an important document and we would usually recommend writing one when setting up a trust or writing a Will which contains trust provisions. They should be updated when circumstances change and reviewed on a regular basis.
Curated Content Related Resources

Letter of Wishes: What You Need to Know

  • February 25, 2021
  • 3 minutes read
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The Government of Canada has published a useful online guide explaining the tax responsibilities of legal representatives for the estates of deceased individuals. This guide sets out a 4-stage process...
Curated Content Related Resources

Tax Responsibilities of Legal Representatives of Estates: Canada

  • March 15, 2023
  • Less than a minute
Read More
Creating an estate plan can protect your family’s finances. Learn why it is important for young families to get an early start on estate planning.
Curated Content Related Resources

Don’t Wait: Estate Planning for Young Families

  • June 20, 2025
  • 1 minute read
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Recent Posts

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?
May 12, 2026

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

One widely shared social post says putting “everything you own” into a Trust could bypass probate, leaving more funds for your kids when passing on your estate. But that advice is far from universal.
May 12, 2026

Put “Everything in a Trust” to Bypass Probate: Is This Good Advice?

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.
May 8, 2026

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

Ontario’s approach is deliberately cautious. A posthumously conceived child is entitled to inherit only if all statutory requirements are satisfied.
May 8, 2026

Posthumous Conception and Inheritance in Ontario

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Infamous Feuds + Celebrity Estates

Cautionary Tales

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

Glastonbury Founder Could Avoid £80m in Inheritance Tax

Agreement Reached in Dispute over Charley Pride's Will
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Agreement Reached in Dispute over Charley Pride’s Will

Often you hear that you should review your will or trust to make sure it keeps up with changes in your life and still meets your needs. The tragic death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose will became public due to the probate proceeding, brought some of these issues into the public eye.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Unintended Consequences: Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Estate

Controversial Prince Documentary Cancelled Over Estate Dispute
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Controversial Prince Documentary Cancelled Over Estate Dispute

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

Probate Disputes: The Top 10 Estate Battles Of All Time

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

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

From legendary musicians to business moguls, read on to discover some of the bitterest inheritance battles of all time. 
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Battle of Wills: 25 Infamous Inheritance Disputes

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

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

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 Barclay family feud started with accusations of privacy breach at the family-owned Ritz hotel. Open discussions about succession, good structuring and mediation could help a family business avoid going the same way as the Barclay's.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Rise and Fall of an Empire: The Barclay Family Feud

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

Disney is one of the biggest media companies in the world, with an estimated net worth of nearly $130 billion. From a family-trust-fund feud to generous philanthropic endeavors, here's a look at the three generations of the Disney family.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Disney Family Feud as Heirs Battle for $400 Million Trust Fund

Foreman established a distinctive personal legacy marked by a large blended family and a multimillion-dollar estate. His unique family dynamic highlights the importance of proper estate planning: crucial when managing multiple heirs, complex family relationships, and shared family names.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

George Foreman’s Legacy: Lessons for Complex Blended Families

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???

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

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

Richard Simmons’ Estate: Family in Legal Battle with Housekeeper

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

The battle for the Sunjay Kapur empire has taken an explosive turn, as shocking allegations of a ‘forged will’ have surfaced, shaking the very foundation of this high-profile dispute.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Forged Will Allegations: Battle for The Sunjay Kapur 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

Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Lessons To Be Learned From Failed Celebrity Estates

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

Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes

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

Inside Billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s Family Trust Battle

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 Guinness family’s story shows that inheritance without structure can lead to division... When assets, wishes, and responsibilities are clearly defined, you’re not just protecting your property—you’re protecting your family’s relationships and legacy.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Inheritance Conflict & Division: Lessons from The Guinness Family

Inside The Bitter Family Feuds of America’s Richest Billionaire Clans
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Inside The Bitter Feuds of America’s Richest Families

real repercussions of inheriting real estate

Property Pitfalls

Renouncing an Inheritance: an Inherent Right | Inheriting a House | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Renouncing an Inheritance: an Inherent Right

  • June 18, 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
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
Early inheritance is an increasingly popular route towards homeownership: a way for Canadian families to support younger generations...
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Early Inheritance is Trending: Canada’s ‘Living Legacy’ Movement

  • March 27, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Are you planning to leave real estate to a loved one under your Will? Do you want that property to be transferred free of debt or other claims? Language matters!
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Navigating Bequests of Real Estate: Language Matters!

  • August 8, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Avoid Estate Administration Surprises. Performing a title search on your property as part of your estate plan could save your heirs both money and hassle. 
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Avoid Estate Administration Surprises: Perform a Title Search

  • October 26, 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

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

66
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

34
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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