With many estates being administered over extended periods —by older spouses, siblings, or peers— the risk that an executor becomes incapable is very real and foreseeable. Planning for incapacity at the drafting stage is key... 26 Jun

What Happens When An Estate Executor Becomes Incapable?

This article provides general information only. Estate administration rules and procedures vary across provinces and territories, and legal advice is recommended in most cases. 12 Jun

Estate Administration: Practical First Steps for Executors

Discretionary trusts can be an effective way to provide for beneficiaries without granting them fixed entitlements. However, these structures can create uncertainty for beneficiaries... Understanding the legal framework is critical for both sides. 21 May

Ontario Guide to Discretionary Trusts and Beneficiary Rights

Ontario’s approach is deliberately cautious. A posthumously conceived child is entitled to inherit only if all statutory requirements are satisfied. 08 May

Posthumous Conception and Inheritance in Ontario

For individuals with cross-border estates, careful planning is essential. For Canadians with connections to European Union member states, this area of law has grown considerably more important... 27 Apr

Canadians with European Assets: Whose Law Governs?

If you think the executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate is mismanaging the assets within it, it’s easy to feel powerless. However, when you know what steps to take, you may be able to hold the executor accountable while preventing further loss. 22 Apr

Executor Mismanaging Estate: What Beneficiaries Should Do

Every inherited commercial property with tenants comes with lease obligations that transfer with the building, not with the person. The estate steps into the landlord role immediately. 21 Apr

Inherited Commercial Property with Tenants: Guide for Heirs & Executors

An understanding of the legal framework governing estate and trust distributions provides the necessary context for examining why fiduciaries may choose to postpone disbursements. 11 Apr

Frequently Asked Questions About Delayed Distributions

If you're named as a beneficiary, you generally don't have to share — but intestacy rules, will contests, and tax consequences can complicate things. 05 Apr

Does a Beneficiary Have to Share Inheritance with Siblings?

State inheritance laws vary more than you might expect — learn how they affect spousal rights, what happens without a will, and which states impose inheritance taxes. 04 Apr

Inheritance Laws Vary By State: Understanding Your Rights

If you are a trust beneficiary in California, the law stands behind you. You have specific, enforceable rights that a trustee cannot ignore, sidestep, or delay. If your trustee has treated you unfairly, here's what you need to know... 02 Apr

Your Rights as a Trust Beneficiary in California

While courts are generally reluctant to interfere with a testator’s choice of estate trustee, that choice will be overridden where it is necessary to ensure the proper, efficient, and impartial administration of the estate. 23 Mar

Feuding Siblings Replaced By Neutral Third-Party Estate Trustee