If you’ve unexpectedly taken over legal guardianship of a minor or disabled person, you may be scrambling to figure out what your next steps should be...
Curated Content Guardian Safeguards

What to Do When You Unexpectedly Become a Guardian

  • November 21, 2020
  • 1 minute read
When a beneficiary cannot be located during the probate process, executors have a legal duty to make reasonable efforts to find them. This guide outlines the steps executors should take to fulfill their obligations...
Curated Content Related Resources

What Should Executors Do If They Can’t Locate a Beneficiary?

  • April 16, 2025
  • Less than a minute
Understanding the Role of Prenups in Estate Planning | This article explores the intersection of prenups and estate planning, with a specific focus on how these agreements are utilized in Missouri
Curated Content Life Events

Understanding the Role of Prenups in Estate Planning

  • August 27, 2024
  • 1 minute read
In today’s increasingly digital world, traditional processes are being transformed by technology, and estate planning is no exception. Recent developments in technology and changes to the legal landscape are creating room for the possibility of electronic wills...
Curated Content Digital Distress

Electronic Wills: The Future of Estate Planning in Ontario

  • December 10, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Six Estate Planning Mistakes Celebrities Made | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong | A will isn't enough...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Six Estate Planning Mistakes Celebrities Made

  • March 18, 2024
  • 1 minute read
With different countries enforcing varied intestacy rules, navigating these legal frameworks can be overwhelming...
Beneficiary Rights Curated Content

Inheritance Law: How Different Countries Handle Intestate Estates

  • March 10, 2026
  • 1 minute read
Ontario Estate Court Forms Revamped: Key Changes You Need to Know
Curated Content Related Resources

Ontario Estate Court Forms Revamped: Key Changes

A living will is an important part of advance care planning, which involves discussing and preparing for future health care decisions in the event you can’t make them. Learn where to find advance directive forms in your state.
Curated Content Related Resources

Advance Care Planning: Preparing a Living Will

Choosing the right estate planning attorney is vital for ensuring that your wishes are honored and your assets are properly managed. By following these tips, you can ensure a smoother transition of assets and provide peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Choose The Right Estate Planning Attorney?

The Probate Process: Frequently Asked Questions
Curated Content Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About The Probate Process

Handling digital assets during probate in Ontario presents a unique legal challenge. This guide outlines the legal and practical steps for executors to manage a modern digital estate.
Curated Content Digital Distress

Handling Digital Assets & Accounts During Ontario Probate

valuable lessons learned from

Communication Breakdowns
& Family Disputes

The First Step: Open Conversation with Loved Ones | Communication Breakdowns | We Need to Talk About Estate Planning | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

The First Step: Open Conversation with Loved Ones

  • September 5, 2024
  • 1 minute read
Biggest Risk to the Continuity of Family Wealth: Breakdown of Communication and Trust | Curated Content | Estates Gone Wrong
Communication Breakdowns Curated Content

Breakdown of Communication: The Biggest Risk to Family Wealth

  • November 28, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Series stars Stephen Fry as Peter Kingdom, who is coping with family, colleagues, and the strange locals who come to him for legal assistance.
Dramatized Content Family Disputes

Kingdom | British Comedy-Drama Series | 2007-2009

  • April 22, 2007
  • Less than a minute
Load More
random roundup

Filter By Topic

All Celebrity Estates Family Disputes Charitable Misgivings Common Mistakes Bizarre Bequests Long-Term Care Crisis Communication Breakdowns Property Pitfalls Digital Distress Guardian Safeguards
Recent court ruling underscores a fundamental lesson for charities involved in property or trust matters: clear, formal documentation is essential. Without a properly executed declaration of trust, even well-intentioned trust arrangements can fall short in court.
Charitable Misgivings Curated Content

The Case of The Property Trust: a Cautionary Tale for Charities

  • March 27, 2025
  • 1 minute read
This article explains why failing to designate a guardian for minor children is a common but serious oversight, how the legal process works in its absence, and why the consequences tend to emerge only in moments of crisis.
Common Mistakes Curated Content

Common Mistake: Failing to Name a Guardian for Minor Children

  • March 24, 2026
  • 1 minute read
Few things feel as delicate or as important as talking with a family member about long-term care. The team at CareOne is sharing tips to help you navigate the emotional conversations about long-term care options. 
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Long-Term Care: Navigating Emotional Conversations

  • June 15, 2025
  • Less than a minute
Removing an Estate Trustee: How Bad is Bad Enough? | Family Disputes | Court Rulings | Ontario | Estates Gone Wrong
Curated Content Family Disputes

Removing an Estate Trustee: How Bad is Bad Enough?

  • April 10, 2024
  • Less than a minute
This guide covers the legal rights of each sibling, the practical options available, what to do when negotiation fails, and how to protect your ownership interest throughout the process.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

One Sibling Living in Inherited House: Legal Rights & Practical Options

  • March 27, 2026
  • Less than a minute
Digital Distress Dramatized Content

Black Mirror | White Christmas | December 2014

  • December 14, 2014
  • 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
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
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
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
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
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. 
Common Mistakes Generated Content

Why Powers of Attorney (POAs) are Crucial

  • September 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
guardian safeguards + eldercare nightmares

The Importance of Planning for
Custody & Long-Term Care

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.
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Caregiving Crisis at Work: Millions of Canadians Struggling

  • May 25, 2026
  • 1 minute read
Be prepared to be vulnerable. Start by acknowledging it's a challenging topic and ensure everyone is comfortable and open to the discussion.
Generated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

How to Discuss Long-Term Care Planning with Your Family

  • May 7, 2025
  • 2 minutes read
While long-term care is often associated with the elderly, it can affect individuals of all ages due to various circumstances. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different types of long-term care available and delve into how estate planning is affected by and should be considered for each type.
Curated Content Long-Term Care Crisis

Estate Planning & Long-Term Care: A Comprehensive Guide

  • January 31, 2025
  • 1 minute read
Load More
Helpful Tips + Reference Guides

Related Resources

When a beneficiary cannot be located during the probate process, executors have a legal duty to make reasonable efforts to find them. This guide outlines the steps executors should take to fulfill their obligations...
Curated Content Related Resources

What Should Executors Do If They Can’t Locate a Beneficiary?

  • April 16, 2025
  • Less than a minute
Read More
If a personal representative wishes to purchase estate assets, it should be with the consent of all beneficiaries or occur at fair market value with the approval of the court.
Curated Content Related Resources

BC Supreme Court Ruling: When “Self-Dealing” May Be Allowed

  • August 14, 2023
  • 1 minute read
Read More
Absence of a clear and well-structured will often leads to protracted and costly legal disputes, straining relationships. Take steps, now, to ensure your will is "contest-proof"...
Curated Content Related Resources

Eliminating Ambiguity: Steps to Ensure Your Will is “Contest-Proof”

  • April 13, 2026
  • Less than a minute
Read More
While not intended to be comprehensive in nature, this guide lays out a basic summary of what is involved and some things to keep in mind if you are involved in settling a loved one’s estate.
Curated Content Related Resources

Basic Guide to The Probate Court Process in Ontario

  • August 29, 2023
  • Less than a minute
Read More
Load More

Recent Posts

With the right strategies, you can avoid making financial mistakes and instead ensure most of what you want to leave behind lands in the correct hands...
July 23, 2026

End-of-Life Tax Strategies: Leaving More For Your Heirs

July 23, 2026

New US Tax Laws That Could Impact What Your Heirs Receive

Not planning your life around legacy? You're not alone. A growing wave of single and child-free retirees is unapologetically putting their own needs first. Don't forget to protect yourself by planning for the "What Ifs"...
July 17, 2026

No Heirs? Protect Yourself, Before You ‘Blow Your Nest Egg’!

The Court of Appeal recently released a decision dismissing appeals against conviction of a former Toronto police officer who fabricated the last will and testament of Heinz Siegfried Sommerfeld to benefit the police officer.
July 15, 2026

Consequences of ‘Stealing’ an Estate: Ontario Fraudulent Will Case

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.

Share Your Profile
Infamous Feuds + Celebrity Estates

Cautionary Tales

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

Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Val Kilmer’s Digital Legacy

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

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 true story of a multi-billion dollar art heist and how they got away with it... 2009 Documentary follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' 25 billion dollar collection of modern and post-impressionist art.
Dramatized Content Infamous Feuds

The Art of the Steal | Documentary | 2009

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

The Menendez Estate: What Happened to the Money?

Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential and renowned artists of the 20th century, left a lasting legacy through his groundbreaking artwork. However, the probate process that followed his death in 1973 was anything but straightforward.
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

From Canvas to Courtroom: The Legal Battle Over Picasso’s Estate

Robert Redford's stunning $20m property portfolio revealed after Hollywood icon dies in his sleep aged 89
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Robert Redford’s Stunning $20m Property Portfolio

Actress Diane Keaton left behind not just a remarkable legacy but an important reminder about estate planning for our pets.
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Pet Trusts: What We Can Learn from Diane Keaton’s Estate

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

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

James Brown’s Estate Reaches Settlement After Nearly 15-Year Dispute | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

James Brown’s Estate Reaches Settlement After Lengthy Dispute

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

Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Last Wishes: a Tale of Two Wills
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Last Wishes: a Tale of Two Wills

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?

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

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

The Agnellis, Italy's ‘royal family’ of industry, has played a pivotal role in shaping global business and culture but a bitter feud is driving the Fiat family apart
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

The Agnelli Dynasty: Bitter 20-Year Inheritance Feud

Heirs to an iconic fortune sought out a wealth manager who would assuage their progressive consciences. Now their dispute is exposing dynastic secrets...
Curated Content Infamous Feuds

Getty Trust Issues: Dispute Exposed Family Secrets

Mercedes Kilmer addresses mixed reactions to her late Father's precedent-setting AI-generated posthumous performance in "As Deep as the Grave"...
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Kilmer’s Daughter Defends Late Father’s AI-Generated Performance

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?

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

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

Estate Planning Mistakes of the Rich and Famous | Curated Content | Celebrity Estates | Inheritance Horror Stories | Estates Gone Wrong
Celebrity Estates Curated Content

Estate Planning Mistakes of the Rich and Famous

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

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

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 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

real repercussions of inheriting real estate

Property Pitfalls

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
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
Leaving your house to your children can be a meaningful way to pass on your legacy, but it is important to consider all aspects of it.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

Factors to Consider Before Leaving Your House to Your Children

  • November 4, 2024
  • Less than a minute
This article will provide a comprehensive overview of capital gains on inherited property in Canada, explain who pays the tax, explore strategies to reduce or avoid it, and answer frequently asked questions to ensure you have a clear understanding of your obligations and options.
Curated Content Property Pitfalls

How to Avoid Paying Capital Gains Tax on Inherited Property in Canada

  • June 24, 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
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
Load More

Explore Topics

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

52
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

56
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

54
Story Submissions

We know, this can be a very sensitive topic. If you have a personal story or a cautionary tale —a link to a specific article, blog post, or recommended resource that you found particularly helpful in your own estate planning and administration journey— anonymous submissions are welcomed and encouraged.

Share Your Story