The Best of The Blunt Bean Counter - “My Kids Will Never Fight Over My Estate”

This summer, as per tradition, I am re-posting the "best of" The Blunt Bean Counter blog while I work on my golf game (it needs more work than usual :( Today, I am posting a May 2021 blog titled "My Kids Will Never Fight Over My Estate". I decided to re-post this blog because I was recently told of the acrimony caused in a family because a parent did not specifically allocate personal assets in their will as promised/told to their children during the parent's lifetime.

 

My Kids Will Never Fight Over My Estate

In December 2019, I reviewed the book “Bobby Gets Bubkes: Navigating the Sibling Estate Fight.” In that book, estate lawyer Charles Ticker attempts to explain how to avoid, or at least limit, sibling estate fights when drafting your will. In the comments section to that post, Michael James, who writes the excellent finance blog Michael James on Money, made the following remark:

Sounds like an interesting book. Sadly, I'm guessing most people incorrectly think that their own kids would never squabble in these ways, so they think they don't need to follow the book's advice.

Michael’s “guess” is very perceptive. Based on my experiences over 35 years as an accountant, many parents look at their children and their sibling relationships with rose-coloured glasses or, in some cases, with blinders. As a consequence, they ignore clear warning signals that their children have significant sibling rivalry issues and don’t work well together. In some cases, you can almost predict a sibling estate fight.

Let me be clear. I am not saying every estate has a sibling fight. Many families settle and distribute the estate in accordance with the will and their parent’s wishes with little acrimony. However, this is far from the case in many estates, as human nature can turn ugly when there is money and sentimental items at stake, especially where sibling issues have reared their heads during the parents’ lifetimes.

Today, I am going to list factors in no particular order that can cause siblings to squabble over an estate.

Why siblings squabble over an estate

• Greed – Very simply, money causes some people to lose their minds and perspective. This can destroy sibling relationships.
• Grabbers – I have seen this many times. One child “grabs,” or takes, items before the will is considered, or even ignores the wishes of the will, which starts a spiral of hurt and mistrust among the siblings.
• Sentimental items – Children often fight over these items. In many cases, this issue can be avoided if the parent simply provides a specific item-by-item allocation in their wills of sentimental items such as jewelry. Parents can also cause huge sibling issues when they promise or tell a child they will receive a certain item and then do not specifically allocate that item to the child in their will—or worse yet, allocate the item to another child. Parents: always make your will consistent with what you have told your children, or communicate the change to them.
• Grandchildren – There is no right or wrong answer here, but parents really need to think through how to allocate their estate when one of their children does not have children of their own or each family has a different number of grandchildren. Is the estate split equally by family? And if giving money directly to grandchildren—does each grandchild receive the same amount, or is the allocation equal by family and a grandchild with no siblings receives more than a grandchild with siblings?
• Business assets – When parents leave a business to one sibling and equalize other siblings in cash or investments of equal value, one would think they have accomplished peak fairness. Yet some businesses explode after the parents die, making the child that took over the business very wealthy. Alternatively, the business may stumble or even fail, leaving that child in far worse financial situation than their siblings. Either way, the disparity in financial position creates acrimony.
• Asset in one child’s name – Parents often put assets in a child’s name for probate or tax planning purposes. But as the saying goes, ownership is nine-tenths of the law. Some siblings may depart from the parents’ assumption that they will act just as trustees of that asset for their siblings. They may think of themselves as the actual owner of the asset.
• No parents, no buffers - One comment from Charles’ book I found truly relevant was “that once the parental referees are out of the picture, the gloves come off.” I have seen this so often. Parents really do act as buffers and referees for their children. Without a referee, disagreements can break out.
• Spouses and in-laws – Spouses and in-laws in the ear of one child stoking their belief that the parents divided assets unfairly have caused many a sibling fight.

Parents: Have that discussion

Many of the above issues are human nature, which can’t be avoided entirely. But parents need to consider all the above possibilities when drafting a will. Readers of my blog will know that I am a huge proponent of discussing your will to a full or partial extent with your family and explaining your intentions. I think this can sometimes avoid or minimize sibling estate issues.

It is sad that sibling estate fights are even a topic, but they do unfortunately often become an issue. Parents, my suggestion to you is consider these issues, get good estate planning advice, consider a family meeting, and take off your rose-coloured glasses when planning your estate.

This site provides general information on various tax issues and other matters. The information is not intended to constitute professional advice and may not be appropriate for a specific individual or fact situation. It is written by the author solely in their personal capacity and cannot be attributed to the accounting firm with which they are affiliated. It is not intended to constitute professional advice, and neither the author nor the firm with which the author is associated shall accept any liability in respect of any reliance on the information contained herein. Readers should always consult with their professional advisors in respect of their particular situation. Please note the blog post is time sensitive and subject to changes in legislation or law.

The Top Five Areas of Estate Litigation

I have written several blogs on wills, estates and executors; some from a tax planning perspective and others  from a purely philosophical or observational perspective. I find this topic area fascinating. Thus, I am pleased today to have a guest blog by Charles Ticker, a lawyer who specializes in estates. Charles will discuss the ugly underbelly of estates, the litigation that can arise.

The Top Five Areas of Estate Litigation

The writer Ambrose Bierce once quipped: “Death is not the end, there remains the litigation over the estate”. As a lawyer who deals with estate disputes, I can certainly confirm Bierce’s observation. Today I will discuss the top five areas where litigation tends to occur.

Challenging the Will

Wills can be challenged if the testator ( person who made the will) lacked the requisite capacity. The legal test for capacity to make a will was set out in the 1870 English case of Banks v Goodfellow :

It is essential to the exercise of such a power that a testator shall understand the nature of the act and its effects; shall understand the extent of the property of which he is disposing; shall be able to comprehend and appreciate the claims to which he ought to give effect; and with a view to the latter object, that no disorder of the mind shall poison his affections, pervert his sense of right, or prevent the exercise of his natural faculties — that no insane delusion shall influence his will in disposing of his property and bring about a disposal of it which, if the mind had been sound, would not been made.

Anytime an elderly person changes his or her will in a significant fashion or decides to leave a child out of the will, the likelihood of a will challenge greatly increases. To defend the will against any possible claim, it is well worth spending the money to obtain the written opinion of a capacity assessor prior to the making of the will as to whether the individual had capacity. As well, it is helpful if the will is prepared by a lawyer as opposed to a self –help will kit. Medical records and lawyer’s records can be reviewed and may shed some light on the testator’s mental condition.

Another ground for challenging the will is undue influence. If Mom was coerced by daughter Sally to cut brother Bob out of the will, then the will may be set aside. However, it is difficult to prove undue influence.

Family Law Act Applications

In Ontario, if a married spouse dies without making adequate provision for his or her spouse, the surviving spouse can within 6 months of the date of death make an election either to take the gifts under the will or apply to the Court for an equalization payment similar to a divorce situation. Sometimes the surviving married spouse needs more time to make a decision whether or not to seek an equalization payment because the spouse does not have sufficient information or documentation concerning the deceased’s assets. In those situations, the surviving spouse can apply to the Court for an extension of time within which to file the election. Legal advice should be sought as soon as possible after the spouse’s death.

Dependant’s Support Relief Applications

In Ontario and most jurisdictions, there is an expectation that the deceased make adequate provision for the support of dependants. The definition of dependant varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but in Ontario dependants can include minor and adult children , grandchildren, parents, siblings, married spouses, common law spouses and same sex partners. The dependant in Ontario needs to prove not only financial need but also that the deceased was under a legal obligation to pay support or was paying support just prior to the time of death. Once gain, there are time limits within which to launch a claim ( six months from the grant of letters probate of the will or of letters of administration) and legal advice should be sought as soon as possible. The Court, if it considers proper, may allow a claim that is filed later if there are still assets in the estate that have not been distributed.

Claims based on constructive trust and unjust enrichment

If a person has contributed money or labour or has provided value to the deceased which benefited the deceased and contributed to the acquisition, maintenance or improvement of an asset, a claim based on the doctrine of constructive trust can be brought against the estate. The Court may award the claimant an interest in the asset if there is a connection between the asset and the contribution made or may make a monetary award of compensation. Constructive trust cases are not easy to prove. There is often no real agreement that the claimant will receive compensation. Therefore, the claimant must show that the deceased received a benefit and was unjustly enriched at the expense or detriment of the claimant and that there was no legal reason for the benefit and related deprivation, that is the person contributing the money or services was not making the contribution as a gift or did not receive some other benefit from the deceased. Constructive trust claims are often seen in the context of a common law spousal relationships because at present in Ontario common law spouses do not have the same property rights on death as do married spouses.

Claims against executors

Executors have a difficult job. They are trustees and fiduciaries owing the highest duty of care to the beneficiaries. They are responsible to manage the estate in accordance with the provisions of the will and keep detailed records. If trusts are involved, they must prudently invest the estate. Executors can be called upon to account for their actions and in particular any compensation they propose to take. Even if the will allows the executors to pre-take compensation they will still be required to account to the beneficiaries. If the beneficiaries do not approve of the accounting, the executor must have his accounts passed by the Court. Sometimes, the Court will remove an executor if the Court is satisfied that the executor is not carrying out his duties competently or honestly. Executors also face potential personal liability from creditors of the estate if the executor distributes the estate and neglects to pay the deceased’s creditors. To avoid this problem, executors should advertise for creditors.

Charles Ticker, is an estates lawyer based in Toronto, Canada who focuses on estate litigation and mediation of estate disputes. More information about him can be found at http://www.tickerlaw.com/. The information in this blog is not intended to be legal advice. Readers should consult their own lawyer, attorney or other professional for advice.

The blogs posted on The Blunt Bean Counter provide information of a general nature. These posts should not be considered specific advice; as each reader's personal financial situation is unique and fact specific. Please contact a professional advisor prior to implementing or acting upon any of the information contained in one of the blogs.