Skip to content
Browse All Posts
  • Estates Gone Wrong
  • Featured Topics
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Related Resources
  • Legacy Lexicon
  • Estates Gone Wrong
  • Featured Topics
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Related Resources
  • Legacy Lexicon
Worried a beneficiary will blow —or even just simply mismanage— their inheritance? Ontario wills can include spendthrift trusts with staggered distributions and trustee control. This article explains the main options... 30 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Squandered Legacies

Worried Their Inheritance May Do ‘More Harm Than Good’?

Estate planners have a variety of techniques and tools that can be employed to protect beneficiaries from themselves. Learn more about how to prevent heirs from squandering their inheritances... 18 Sep
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Squandered Legacies

How Estate Plans Prevent Heirs From Squandering Inheritances

If you want your family’s money to last, you need to know what these millionaires missed. The right habits make all the difference... 09 Aug
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Squandered Legacies

Making Your Family’s Money Last: Start Teaching Habits Now

Spendthrift trusts help ensure that beneficiaries can’t squander their inheritance. They can also serve to protect assets from creditors. Rather than allowing the beneficiary to receive a lump sum, the trustee releases the money incrementally. 07 Aug
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Legacy Lexicon

Spendthrift Trusts: What Are They and How Do They Work?

It is best to customize a will or trust to your specific situation. Sometimes you want more say in how or when your beneficiaries will acquire and use your assets. For this reason, several clauses are commonly included in wills or trusts... 02 Apr
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Related Resources

Types of Clauses Commonly Included in Wills or Trusts

For a loved one struggling with an addiction, a direct inheritance could be dangerous. However, disinheriting an addicted adult child is NOT the only option. Thankfully, there is an alternative estate planning solution available. 12 Mar
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Related Resources

Before You Disinherit a Loved One Struggling with Addiction…

If you wish to restrict the flow of inherited money to your child, you can do so through your will or trust. While there are legal limits on conditional gifting, you are generally free to structure an inheritance the way you would like. 07 Feb
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Frequently Asked Questions

Bequests with Strings Attached: Are Conditional Gifts a Good Idea?

Generational wealth erosion is a common phenomenon where inherited wealth diminishes over time, often within a few generations. Several factors contribute to the dissipation of inherited wealth... 08 Jan
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Generated Content, Squandered Legacies

Generational Erosion of Inherited Wealth: Why Does it Happen?

Estate planning for an irresponsible child is a lot of work. Fortunately, estate planners may exert influence over how heirs spend their inheritances. Keep reading to find out the best ways to protect an irresponsible child’s financial future... 19 Nov
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Squandered Legacies

Strategies: Estate Planning for Irresponsible Children

Some events in life have unexpected effects... Inheriting a large sum of money can be like that. It sounds good, but it is often riddled with conflicting emotions and unexpected challenges. 04 Nov
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Life Events

The Unexpected Effects of Sudden Inherited Wealth

Are you worried that your heirs will foolishly spend their inheritance or lose it to creditors? You may want to consider establishing a “spendthrift” trust. 21 Jun
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: What is a ‘Spendthrift Trust’?

Ensuring that younger generations don’t waste the wealth you’ve worked so hard to build starts with careful estate and tax planning. It's up to you to set the rules... 29 May
  • by Estates Gone Wrong
  • Curated Content, Squandered Legacies

Will Your Heirs Blow Their Inheritance? That’s Up To You!

  • 1
  • 2

Search

Topics:

  • Beneficiary Rights (28)
  • Bizarre Bequests (32)
  • Celebrity Estates (60)
  • Charitable Misgivings (32)
  • Common Mistakes (52)
  • Communication Breakdowns (46)
  • Digital Distress (58)
  • Family Disputes (69)
  • Guardian Safeguards (38)
  • Infamous Feuds (34)
  • Law Reform (38)
  • Life Events (32)
  • Long-Term Care Crisis (36)
  • Property Pitfalls (54)
  • Squandered Legacies (28)
  • Succession Lessons (42)
  • Tax-Smart Strategies (38)
  • Unique Assets & Interests (40)

Recent:

A will is intended to provide clear instructions about the distribution of a person’s property after death. But what happens when an important clause is missing? This recent Ontario court case is a useful reminder of the difficulties that can arise...

What Happens When a Will is Missing an Important Clause?

In many cases, an executor’s first instinct is not to call a lawyer. It is to ask Google. The problem? Google can provide thousands of answers, many of which are incomplete, inaccurate, or based on another jurisdiction. Executors need practical guidance tailored to the particular estate they are administering.

Cautionary Guidance for Executors: Google at Your Own Risk!

Many people hear “executor” and think it means reading the will and writing a few checks. In reality, executors can face personal liability. Find out exactly what you're agreeing to, before you agree...

Agreeing To Serve As Executor: Not As Simple As It Sounds

Holograph wills and codicils are often viewed as a simple and inexpensive way to record testamentary wishes. Ironically, the very simplicity that makes holograph codicils attractive can also make them extraordinarily vulnerable...

Ontario Case Study: The Hidden Risks of a DIY Codicil

Story Submission

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

Search:

Follow:

Explore:

Administration Canada Capacity Court Battles Court Rulings Debt Definitions Designations Eldercare End-of-Life Planning Estate Tax Executor Fiduciary Duty Glossary Guardianship Guide High Net Worth Industry Expert International Jurisdictions Law Reform Lawsuits Litigation Philanthropy Powers of Attorney Probate Professional Advisor Real Estate Resources Roles Siblings Statistics Strategies Succession Survivorship Tax Technology Terminology Testator Intent Transparency Trustee Trusts United States Vulnerable Adults Watchable
©estatesgonewrong.com