A contingent beneficiary is a backup beneficiary who inherits assets if the primary beneficiary is unable to, for example, if they predecease you or are unable to accept the inheritance. You likely need a contingent beneficiary to ensure your assets are distributed as intended, even if your primary beneficiary can't receive them.  19 Mar

What is a Contingent (or Secondary) Beneficiary?

An advance directive is a broad term for legal documents outlining your wishes for medical care if you become unable to make decisions, while a living will is a specific type of advance directive that focuses on end-of-life medical treatment.  19 Mar

What is the Difference Between an Advance Directive and a Living Will?

Most individuals consider purely domestic estate matters to be complex and challenging.  Add another country into the equation and the legal complexity quickly multiplies. 19 Mar

Navigating Cross-Border and Multijurisdictional Estate Matters

Cost of Care Calculator & Long-Term Care Options: By State 18 Mar

Cost of Care Calculator & Long-Term Care Options: By State

In estate planning, a beneficiary designation is the act of naming the person or entity who will inherit specific assets, like life insurance proceeds or retirement account balances, upon your death, bypassing the probate process.  18 Mar

Beneficiary Designations: Bypassing the Probate Process

Divorce significantly impacts estate plans, potentially invalidating provisions naming a former spouse as a beneficiary or executor, so a review and update are crucial.  13 Mar

Life Events: The Significant Impact of Divorce on Your Estate Plans

A common misconception about donor advised funds is that they are trusts, charitable purpose trusts. At times, lawyers, especially those with expertise in trusts and estates, struggle with this distinction, as do donors. 13 Mar

Donor Advised Funds vs. Charitable Purpose Trusts

Economic uncertainty, inflation and the decline of workplace pensions have left growing numbers of Canadian seniors unable to leave their jobs. What can aspiring but anxious would-be retirees do? 13 Mar

Why “Unretirement” May Be the Fate of So Many Canadians

Although still commonly used, in Ontario the term "probate" stopped being officially used on April 1, 1995 (no joke…). What is the process to obtain a Certificate of Appointment, with or without a will? This article answers some of the most common questions... 11 Mar

Frequently Asked Questions About Certificates of Appointment

Can You Decline or Step Down as Power of Attorney in Canada? 10 Mar

Can You Decline or Step Down as Power of Attorney in Canada?

Robert De Niro is said to have plans to leave his seventh child a huge bite of his fortune – leaving his other relatives peeved... De Niro's older children reportedly want an equal cut of his massive estate. 05 Mar

Robert De Niro Sparks ‘Family Feud’ with His Plans to Revamp Will

While precise global statistics on inheritance disputes are limited, studies and reports from various regions indicate a noticeable rise in inheritance disputes worldwide, often attributed to factors like complex family structures, increased wealth, and more people opting for DIY wills without legal guidance.  03 Mar

Noticeable Rise in Inheritance Disputes Worldwide