By John Morrissey
July 18th, 2025
Over the course of the last decade, the prevalence of estate litigation—which broadly includes disputes over Wills, inheritances, missing money and the like—has risen sharply.
This uptick in estate litigation can be attributed to the fact that we are in the midst of the largest transfer of wealth in human history. Many trillions of dollars in assets have started to pass from the baby boomer generation to succeeding generations.
This massive wealth transfer is fueling major estate battles.
From a financial perspective, receiving a large inheritance can be a life-changing event for much of our population. An inheritance can mean an early retirement, paying off a mortgage, or purchasing your dream home. Given the significant impact that receiving an inheritance may have on one’s life, people tend to fight tooth and nail to protect or secure an inheritance.
In Ontario, the multi-generational farm family is no stranger to estate disputes.
This should come as no surprise given that many family farms are comprised of large, valuable parcels of farmland that have been passed down through generations. Even when encumbered, farmland can be tremendously valuable. When the owner of farmland dies, the value of their estate can be worth millions of dollars.
Learn more about why family farm operations are uniquely susceptible to estate battles…
When there are numerous beneficiaries—typically the children of the deceased farmer—each beneficiary will have competing interests when it comes to farmland. Some of the beneficiaries may want to retain ownership of the land with a view to keeping it in the family for generations to come, whereas other beneficiaries will want to see the property sold for top dollar to maximize their inheritance and to ensure their financial stability for years to come.
John Morrissey, Partner, Siskinds Litigation Group
