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.  02 Dec

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. 18 Nov

The Financial and Emotional Challenges of Major Life Changes

A multijurisdictional approach uses one document, whereas a cross-jurisdictional approach uses multiple, separate documents. Both require specialized legal advice to navigate differences in foreign laws, such as forced heirship rules, and to ensure wishes are carried out effectively.  03 Nov

Multi-Jurisdictional vs Cross-Jurisdictional Estate Planning

Survivor's guilt stems from a profound sense of injustice. You may be left wondering "why not me?" and feeling responsible or inadequate. It is important to validate your grief by acknowledging these intense emotions without judgment. 08 Oct

Understanding Survivor’s Guilt: Outliving Your Adult Child

The McCain Foods succession dispute was a bitter, multi-year feud between brothers Harrison and Wallace McCain, co-founders of the french fry giant, that began in the early 1990s.  07 Oct

McCain Foods Succession Dispute: Brother vs Brother

One of the biggest estate planning mistakes you can make is failing to have Health and Financial Powers of Attorney. Protect your wishes. Select someone you trust implicitly to manage your affairs and make personal decisions on your behalf.  30 Sep

Why Powers of Attorney (POAs) are Crucial

The UK is tackling its long-term care crisis through increased funding, leveraging technology, strengthening the social care workforce, and supporting informal carers. 22 Sep

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

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.  15 Sep

Infamous 20-Year-Long Inheritance Battle: Koch Industries

Conditional bequests are provisions in a will that make an inheritance contingent on a beneficiary fulfilling specific requirements. These conditions must be clear, possible, and not violate public policy or the law to be valid.  08 Sep

Conditional Bequests: Criteria for Legal Validity

Moving to a new state is a significant life event that requires reviewing and likely updating your estate plan, as state laws and tax implications can differ. 04 Sep

Moving to a New State? Review & Update Your Estate Plan!

A "letter of wishes" can also be known as a memorandum of wishes, a precatory memorandum, an expression of wishes, or a letter of intent. It serves as a non-binding document to provide guidance to executors and trustees regarding the administration of an estate or trust.  02 Sep

Letter of Wishes: Common Synonyms & Primary Use Cases

Landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision, from 1991, established principles for proving undue influence in trust cases: the Geffen v. Goodman family and trust estate dispute... 28 Aug

Landmark Supreme Court of Canada Decision: Undue Influence