Charitable Bequests: The Importance of Names
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Charitable Bequests: “What’s in a Name?”

  • July 10, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Welcome to "Let’s Talk Family Enterprise", a podcast that explores the ideas, concepts, and models that best serve Family Enterprise Advisors in supporting their clients.
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Estate Planning: Don’t Leave a Mess! [Podcast Episode]

  • December 19, 2024
  • 1 minute read
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!

  • March 11, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Defusing Trust Disputes: A Guide to Conflict Resolution
Curated Content Family Disputes

Defusing Trust Disputes: A Guide to Conflict Resolution

  • December 6, 2024
  • Less than a minute
Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute with Granddaughter over Lisa Marie Presley's Estate | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute with Granddaughter over Estate

  • May 16, 2023
  • Less than a minute
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

  • November 12, 2024
  • Less than a minute
Will your family inherit your outstanding debts? Who’s responsible for paying them off? Can creditors pursue your beneficiaries for payment?
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Don’t Leave Your Family Battling Debt Collectors

The stakes are higher than most people realize. Without proper estate planning, your family could lose thousands of dollars to unnecessary taxes, face months of legal delays, and endure family conflicts that could have been easily prevented.
Curated Content Related Resources

Complete Guide to Protecting Your Family: Estate Planning Ontario

This guide was created by the ALA Office of Research & Evaluation, and funded by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. New books added June 13th, 2025...
Curated Content Related Resources

Financial Literacy in Public Libraries: Estate Planning Books

Philanthropy is a significant part of your life. It's a reflection of your values and the legacy you wish to leave behind. However, ensuring that your beloved charities are named in your Will requires careful planning and attention to detail.
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

How to Ensure Your Beloved Charities are Named in Your Will

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

valuable lessons learned from

Communication Breakdowns
& Family Disputes

Individual family members bring their own perspectives and values to the estate planning process. However, good communication can help head off potential multi-generational conflicts before they happen.
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Generational Estate Planning: Communication is Key!

  • May 10, 2022
  • 1 minute read
Common themes in inheritance disputes include challenges to a will's validity, unfair or unequal asset distribution, family dynamics and pre-existing tensions, lack of clear estate planning, and issues with executor misconduct or mismanagement. 
Family Disputes Generated Content

Inheritance Disputes: Common Themes & Recent Cases (Ontario)

  • August 21, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
estate planning horror stories? money going to the wrong person, incorrect people settling the estate... why you should ask more questions!
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

“What If” Scenarios: Why You Should Ask More Questions

  • September 2, 2024
  • 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
This guide explores the fate of domain names and websites after death, outlining the steps executors and family members should take to manage these digital properties effectively.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Managing Domain Names & Websites After Owner Passes Away

  • January 9, 2025
  • Less than a minute
The Pitfalls of Joint Ownership: Know the Risks
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

The Pitfalls of Joint Ownership: Know the Risks

  • May 22, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Charitable Bequests: The Importance of Names
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

Charitable Bequests: “What’s in a Name?”

  • July 10, 2025
  • 1 minute read
The Lost Inheritance: A Cautionary Tale for Executors | Curated Content | Unclaimed Inheritance | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

The Lost Inheritance: A Cautionary Tale for Executors

  • October 24, 2023
  • 1 minute read
When high-profile celebrities pass away, their estate disputes often make headlines. However, the legal challenges their estates face are not exclusive to those of the rich and famous.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Prevent Costly Missteps: Lessons from Celebrity Estate Disputes

  • May 20, 2025
  • Less than a minute
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
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
For families with a loved one receiving disability assistance, an inheritance can have unintended and damaging consequences. A well-intentioned gift can disrupt eligibility for essential government benefits, often outweighing any short-term financial gain.
Curated Content Family Disputes

Cautionary Tale: Estate Planning for a Loved One With a Disability

  • June 25, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
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
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
Effective communication is a fundamental aspect of administering an estate. Keeping beneficiaries informed about the progress and status of the estate administration is essential to maintaining trust, preventing misunderstandings, and addressing concerns promptly.
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

The Importance of Communication in Estate Administration

  • July 29, 2024
  • Less than a minute
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

  • August 7, 2019
  • 2 minutes read
guardian safeguards + eldercare nightmares

The Importance of Planning for
Custody & Long-Term Care

Legal issues faced by the elderly population arise in almost all areas of legal practice; however, most commonly in real estate law, family law, human rights law, and wills and estates law.
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Power of Attorney & Estate Planning: Elder Law Canada

  • June 21, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Long-Term Care Expenses Can Destroy Your Estate Plan | Elder Care Costs | Tax Implications | LTC Insurance | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Long-Term Care Expenses Can Destroy Your Estate Plan

  • May 23, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Watching your elderly parent(s) struggle with dwindling financial resources can be a distressing and overwhelming experience. However, there are steps you can take to address this situation effectively and ensure your parent receives the care and support they need.
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

What to Do When Your Elderly Parent is Running Out

  • September 25, 2023
  • Less than a minute
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Helpful Tips + Reference Guides

Related Resources

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
With spring in the air, many of us feel inspired to do some cleaning and clear the clutter. While the task may seem daunting, did you know it’s also an essential step in creating a well-thought-out estate plan?
Curated Content Related Resources

How Decluttering Can Help Streamline Estate Administration

  • April 6, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Read More
How to Build an Exceptional Estate Plan
Curated Content Related Resources

Resources: How to Build an Exceptional Estate Plan

  • August 10, 2024
  • Less than a minute
Read More
Most individuals consider purely domestic estate matters to be complex and challenging.  Add another country into the equation and the legal complexity quickly multiplies.
Curated Content Related Resources

Navigating Cross-Border & Multijurisdictional Estate Matters

  • March 19, 2025
  • 1 minute read
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Recent Posts

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...
December 4, 2025

Transferring the Family Home: Considerations for Canadians

Transferring property to heirs "inter vivos" offers emotional benefits and potential probate fee reduction, but can trigger an immediate capital gains tax liability and means a loss of control and potential exposure to your heir's creditors. 
December 2, 2025

Gifting Property to Your Heirs “Inter Vivos”: Pros and Cons

Major life transitions can cause stress that makes it hard to think clearly, leading to poor financial decisions. A Certified Financial Transitionist can help you manage the financial and emotional aspects of these events.
November 18, 2025

The Financial and Emotional Challenges of Major Life Changes

Staying informed isn’t just good practice. It protects relationships, builds trust, and ensures clients feel safe and supported. Consider bookmarking the BankSafe Dementia Hub as a go-to reference when navigating delicate client situations.
November 17, 2025

Dementia Hub: Fraud Prevention Resources from AARP

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

Barry White’s estate story is a heartbreaking reminder of how simple updates to your estate plan can save your family from unnecessary pain. His estate saga serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of neglecting to update your estate plan after major life changes.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Keep Your Documents Up-to-Date: Lessons from Barry White’s Estate

The Menendez Estate: Who Got the Money?
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

The Menendez Estate: What Happened to the Money?

Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Lessons To Be Learned From Failed Celebrity Estates

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”

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

Glastonbury Founder Could Avoid £80m in Inheritance Tax

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

When high-profile celebrities pass away, their estate disputes often make headlines. However, the legal challenges their estates face are not exclusive to those of the rich and famous.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Prevent Costly Missteps: Lessons from Celebrity Estate Disputes

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

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

Elvis Presley’s Estate Planning Mistakes: Lessons for Us All | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Elvis Presley’s Estate Planning Mistakes: Lessons for Us All

Tori Spelling, daughter of TV producer Aaron Spelling, received an inheritance of $800,000 from his $500 million estate, not the substantial sum some might have expected. 
Celebrity Estates Generated Content

Aaron Spelling: Reasons Behind the ‘Unequal’ Estate Distribution?

This video unpacks the 2024 court case involving Zong Qinghou's heirs, the $1.8 billion trust dispute, and the clash between Zong Fuli and three U.S.-based claimants.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Wahaha’s Inheritance Battle: Family Feud & Trust Dispute

Daughters of late Hollywood legend Paul Newman filed a lawsuit against the Newman's Own Foundation (NOF), claiming their father's legacy is "under assault" by the "very organization he founded in an effort to preserve and expand that legacy."
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Paul Newman’s Daughters Claim Father’s Legacy is ‘Under Assault’

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

Billionaire Family Feuds: Seven High-Profile Disputes

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

The members of one of Canada’s wealthiest dynasties are now openly accusing each other of reckless spending, incompetent leadership and outright fraud... in a web of litigation so complex it could keep them bound up in court for years to come.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Stronach Family Trust Dispute: Inside the $500-Million Feud

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

Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Val Kilmer’s Digital Legacy

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrity Estates Curated Content

What We Can Learn From Celebrity Estate Planning Gone Wrong

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

Agreement Reached in Dispute over Charley Pride’s Will

Robin Williams' family, though provided for in his will, spent years after his passing in court battling over items, budgets and Knick knacks because the language in the beloved comedian's will was non-specific and overly vague.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Cautionary Tale: Overly Vague Language in Robin Williams Will

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

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

Inside Billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s Family Trust Battle

real repercussions of inheriting real estate

Property Pitfalls

Even Canadians who don’t consider themselves snowbirds may own property south of the border or have other U.S. based assets that could impact their planning.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Snowbirds: Is Your Cross-border Property in Your Estate Plan?

  • January 2, 2024
  • Less than a minute
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
It is important to understand the limited purpose and necessity behind 'Net Family Property' clauses. They are not a catchall for sheltering and protecting the inheritance of a divorcing beneficiary, although they usually have the appearance of trying to achieve this objective.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Understanding the ‘Net Family Property’ Exclusion Clause: Ontario

  • August 12, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Inheriting a Home With Your Siblings: A Cautionary Tale | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Inheriting a Home With Your Siblings: A Cautionary Tale

  • September 14, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Inheriting a Property With Your Siblings: What Are Your Options? | Family Disputes | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Inheriting a Property With Your Siblings: What Are Your Options?

  • May 30, 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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Explore Topics

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

Bizarre Bequests

28
Priscilla Presley Settles Dispute with Granddaughter over Lisa Marie Presley's Estate | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates

Celebrity Estates

46
Family Conflict Results in Long-Term Estate Litigation over Secret Trust and Mutual Wills Agreement | Family Disputes | Estates Gone Wrong

Charitable Misgivings

30
Estate Planning: 6 Big Mistakes You Might Be Making | Curated Content | Common Mistakes | Estates Gone Wrong

Common Mistakes

42
What to Do when the Executor Is Not Communicating with Beneficiaries? | Curated Content | Communication Breakdowns | Estates Gone Wrong

Communication Breakdowns

40
Top 8 Risks: The Dangers of Improper Estate Planning | Common Mistakes | Cautionary Tales | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong

Digital Distress

46
Fights Over Estates Can Tear Families Apart | Curated Content | Family Disputes | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong

Family Disputes

58
Abusive Guardianships: Prevention & Taking Action

Guardian Safeguards

30
High Costs for Long-Term Care are 'Unforgivable' | Curated Content | Elder Care Nightmares | Estates Gone Wrong

Long-Term Care Crisis

32
What to Do if You Inherit a House with a Mortgage | Curated Content | Property Pitfalls | Real Estate | Inheriting Debt | Estates Gone Wrong

Property Pitfalls

40
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