15 basic (but important) points about executors

Sometimes when I read questions and comments on this blog or speak with people in my office, I realize that there are basic terms used in wi...

Testators can't ask the impossible or illegal in their wills

Did you know that you do not have the right to put absolutely anything you want in your will? We all know that there are certain people that...

Reynolds painting accepted in lieu of 4.7 million inheritance tax

In Canada, we don't have inheritance tax. We can inherit any amount from our parents and not pay tax on it. This is not the case in othe...

More interesting links added

I often spruce up the "Interesting Links" section of this blog, taking down anything that's outdated and adding new things I...

Executor who wouldn't give info to beneficiaries to pay own costs of $80,000

The number one complaint I hear about estates is not about the cost or the time it takes. It's about the fact that executors refuse to p...

Age gracefully and free of parasitic progeny: Ethically Speaking

The title of this article grabbed my attention right away, since it deals with exactly the same things I have dealt with over the last 30 ye...

How can I make sure the beneficiary has to prove she deserves the money?

Have you ever seen someone inherit a substantial sum of money and thought that they didn't deserve it? It's an interesting concept -...

Markham woman dies penniless after son steals life savings

In June, David Klimitz was convicted of stealing his 90-year-old mother's life savings. He had been granted Power of Attorney by his mot...

Questions about bankruptcy and inheritance

I receive quite a few questions on this blog about what to do when a beneficiary of an estate is in bankruptcy, and I have blogged about it ...

Can the estate lawyer make the executors apply for probate if they don't want to?

Can the estate lawyer make the executors go through probate if they don't want to, or without explaining why probate is necessary? A rea...

Boot camp helps first-time executors navigate estate maze

The online newspaper known as www.advocatedaily.com recently interviewed me about our upcoming seminars. Time has flown by and it's only...

Last-minute wills more costly for clients

Are you one of the many people who procrastinate when it comes to getting a will done, then end up realizing that you just can't go on v...

The trickiest items to pass on to your beneficiaries

We know that having a strong will makes  your estate easier on your executor and your beneficiaries. But that doesn't mean that it's...

Lawsuit alleges $100,000 trust fund for dog was mismanaged by executor

When Patricia Bowers of New York passed away, her will set up a trust for her dachshund, Winnie Pooh, with $100,000. According to the terms ...