What Will You Actually Be Judged On? The Executor Standard Most People Have Never Heard Of A friend of mine once described agreeing to be someone’s executor the way most people do: “They asked. I said yes. It seemed like the right thing to do.” That’s the whole conversation for Read more
He Told Me Three Things. Every One of Them Was Wrong. Marcel isn’t an unreasonable man. He has a will. He’s thought about what happens when he dies, at least enough to put something on paper. He loves his five kids. He’s been married a long time, even if the Read more
Most Executors Don’t Know They Can Be Paid Most people who agree to be an executor do it out of love, loyalty, or a sense of obligation. It feels like the right thing to do. It rarely feels like a job. But it is a job. And in Canada, it’s a Read more
When Everything Has to Go What happens when you have to say goodbye to everything you own?“The hardest part of moving abroad wasn’t the paperwork, the flights, or even leaving people behind. It was standing in the living room, looking at years of accumulated life, and deciding what it was Read more
Estate Planning Needs More Than Good Intentions “Hope is not a strategy” is one of those phrases that sticks with you because it’s true. And it’s especially true in estate planning. Most people don’t avoid planning because they’re irresponsible. More often, they avoid it because life is full, the conversation Read more
Okay, you can’t really disinherit the CRA It’s a bit of a cheeky title, I know. You can’t really “disinherit” the CRA. If tax is owing, it’s owing. But you can take steps to reduce unnecessary tax and help ensure more of your estate goes where you intended. That matters, Read more
Beneficiary Designations vs. Your Will Most people assume their will controls everything. It makes sense. You meet with a lawyer, you sign the document, and you’ve clearly said who gets what. Done. But there’s another part of estate planning that sits outside the will and can change the outcome: beneficiary Read more
AI Estate Administration: What Executors Need to Know Executors are increasingly using AI tools to help them manage estate work. Not necessarily because they are interested in technology, but because they find themselves overwhelmed. They’re facing unfamiliar documents, long email chains, confusing instructions from institutions, and timelines that feel unclear. Read more
Probate in Canada: How It Works and Why It Matters Many people feel uneasy when the topic of probate comes up, often because they’re unsure what it actually involves. Some people worry they’re doing something wrong if probate is required. Others assume probate should be avoided at all costs. And Read more
When Families Go “No Contact”: What It Means for Estate Planning In recent months, conversations about family estrangement have become more visible in mainstream media, including a widely discussed discussion hosted by Oprah Winfrey. The idea of going “no contact” with family members has sparked strong reactions. Some see it Read more
