While a verbal promise might be enforceable in certain circumstances, it’s best to have the promised inheritance in writing. This article explores the legal obligations that come with promised inheritance in British Columbia.  09 Sep

Protecting Your Verbally Promised Inheritance

Conditional bequests are provisions in a will that make an inheritance contingent on a beneficiary fulfilling specific requirements. These conditions must be clear, possible, and not violate public policy or the law to be valid.  08 Sep

Conditional Bequests: Criteria for Legal Validity

Recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision provides an important lesson to farming families and their professional advisors: good intentions and family loyalty, while laudable, are no substitute for clear, enforceable agreements. 05 Sep

Court Decision: Important Lesson for Ontario Farming Families

You only have so many hours in the day, days in a week, or patience in being pulled in different directions. Being proactive may seem like extra work now, but it will pay dividends— plan ahead, and the journey will be much smoother. 05 Sep

Balancing End-of-Life Planning for Your Aging Parents and for Yourself

It is important to clearly document and communicate intentions when making either a loan or a gift to a family member. Sometimes we assume a verbal agreement is sufficient but having clear written documentation removes uncertainty and mitigates the risk of disputes arising after the fact. 05 Sep

A Family Feud Unwrapped in Court: Gifts vs Loans

A "letter of wishes" can also be known as a memorandum of wishes, a precatory memorandum, an expression of wishes, or a letter of intent. It serves as a non-binding document to provide guidance to executors and trustees regarding the administration of an estate or trust.  02 Sep

Letter of Wishes: Common Synonyms & Primary Use Cases

Baby boomers are expected to pass down $124 trillion by 2048, and women are positioned to inherit much of that wealth. But many say they feel unprepared to manage an inheritance... 27 Aug

Statistics: Majority of Women Confess ‘Inheritance Anxiety’

If you’re building wealth for future generations, open communication and clear planning are just as important as investment strategies. These stories offer practical lessons for anyone hoping to pass on wealth— or simply keep their family together... 27 Aug

Wealthy Families That Lost Everything Over Generational Feuds

While a letter of wishes is not legally binding, it can still serve as a useful tool and an added “personal touch” to an estate plan, offering clarity on decisions, ensuring wishes are understood and guiding those involved in the administration of the estate. 22 Aug

The Letter of Wishes: A Personal Touch to Your Estate Plan

Common themes in inheritance disputes include challenges to a will's validity, unfair or unequal asset distribution, family dynamics and pre-existing tensions, lack of clear estate planning, and issues with executor misconduct or mismanagement.  21 Aug

Inheritance Disputes: Common Themes & Recent Cases (Ontario)

Unfortunately, many families fall into common estate mistakes that create unnecessary stress, delays, and financial loss. What seems like a minor oversight today can snowball into major problems tomorrow. 18 Aug

Common Estate Mistakes That Can Lead To Financial Chaos

Four points to keep in mind when telling others you are choosing MAID: (1) Don't do it alone, (2) Set the stage, (3) Don't sugarcoat the core message, and (4) Don't leave it too late 15 Aug

Choosing MAID: How Do You Tell Your Loved Ones?