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  • Legacy Lexicon
If you're having issues with a trustee, you may be asking, "What can I do if a trustee refuses to distribute my inheritance?" Read on to learn what your rights are under California law, what might be causing the delay, and what you can do about it. 19 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Beneficiary Rights, Curated Content

Trustee Refusing to Distribute Your Inheritance: California Law

Just about anything that a client says to their lawyer is protected by solicitor-client privilege. This is a cornerstone of our legal system and a fundamental right in Canada. In practice, however, exceptions to privilege are commonplace when the client is deceased. 18 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Frequently Asked Questions

How Privileged are Estate Planning Discussions with Your Lawyer?

Valuing collectibles isn’t always straightforward. Discrepancies between perceived and actual value can trigger disagreements that delay probate and even lead to litigation. 18 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Unique Assets & Interests

The Legal Side of Collectibles & Memorabilia in Estate Disputes

Ontario has changed how inheritance works for separated spouses. If you’re separated and living in Ontario, these new rules could affect who receives your estate whether or not you have a will. 17 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Law Reform

Ontario’s Succession Law: New Rules Affect Separated Spouses 

How will your stored reproductive material be dealt with after your death? Will the material be disposed of, or does the material form part of your estate to be passed on to a selected beneficiary? 16 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Law Reform

Reproductive Material in Estate Planning: Canada

This case underscores that when emotional ties to family cottages are not managed by clear legal drafting, even well-intentioned estate plans can result in litigation. 16 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Family Disputes

Ontario Court Ruling: Sibling Dispute Over The Family Cottage

By ensuring that your intentions are documented, accounting for all family members, and keeping the will simple, you can help your loved ones avoid legal battles and ensure your estate is handled smoothly.   12 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Celebrity Estates, Curated Content

Valuable Lessons in Clarity & Intent from Canadian Celebrity Estates

Just because your children are grown doesn’t mean the money conversations are over. In fact, some of the most important financial lessons and decisions happen in the later chapters of life—not just for you, but for your family. 11 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Related Resources

How to Share Financial Values with Your Adult Children

When a Will contains vague, contradictory, or incomplete instructions, it doesn’t just create paperwork headaches— it can ignite family disputes that last for years. 11 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Communication Breakdowns, Curated Content

What Really Happens When Wills Aren’t Clear?

Case Study: Limits of Family Law Claims Against an Estate 09 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Family Disputes

Case Study: Limits of Family Law Claims Against an Estate

Successful family business succession requires balancing emotional and rational considerations, family harmony and business performance, tradition and innovation. It demands honest self-assessment, difficult conversations, and sometimes painful decisions. 06 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Succession Lessons

Mastering Family Business Succession Planning

This case is a testament to how even well-intentioned actions, when shrouded in ambiguity, can ignite protracted legal battles, leaving emotional scars and financial burdens on grieving families. 06 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Family Disputes

A Family Divided: Vancouver Condo at Centre of Estate Dispute

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Topics:

  • Beneficiary Rights (26)
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  • Communication Breakdowns (42)
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Recent:

Long-Term Care (LTC) is expensive, unpredictable and often prolonged. The projected “great wealth transfer” may therefore become far more concentrated among families who are wealthy enough to absorb years of care costs without exhausting their assets.

US Long-Term Care Costs ‘Eating into’ Family Wealth

Estate trustees (Executors) have a duty to keep accurate records of estate assets and transactions throughout their administration and to account to beneficiaries at appropriate intervals.

Keeping Meticulous Records: Practical Tips for Executors

Have Canadian boomers saved enough for retirement? It doesn't seem like it... And the numbers suggest this isn’t just a handful of unlucky families. It’s a structural problem with how an entire generation approached retirement.

Why Canadian Kids Are Bailing Out Boomer Parents

A handshake promise to leave the family farm can legally override a written will in New South Wales. The legal mechanism is equitable estoppel, and courts have enforced it in farm succession disputes where the evidence is strong enough.

NSW Inheritance Law: Can a Verbal Promise Override a Will?

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