The Legal Canvas
Legacy Planning, Once Removed: Estate Planning as Spring Cleaning
How Much Estate Information Should You Share with Your Kids?
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 337: Listen and Learn -- Will Revocation
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 336: Listen and Learn -- Will Formation and Execution
Balancing Your Estate for Harmony
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 326: Listen and Learn -- Intestate Distribution (Wills and Trusts)
Empowerment Through Hero Generation with Nicole a`Beckett and Dr. Shruti Roy
Navigating Solo Aging with Dr. Gerda Maissel
Law School Toolbox Podcast Episode 503: Listen and Learn -- Present and Future Estates (Part 2)
Mamma Mia!: Common Estate Planning Issues for Blended Families
Once Removed Episode 38: The Legacy Mindset: What It Is and How to Build It
Next Generation Legacy Management - The Essence of Developing, Managing and Implementing a Plan for Future Generations
Once Removed Episode 14: Leaving It All to Charity: Lessons From Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis
Once Removed Episode 13: It’s 5 o’Clock: Do You Know Where Your Will Is? A Lesson From Aretha Franklin
Once Removed Episode 2: Property Ownership, Beneficiary Designations, and Avoiding Probate
Once Removed Episode 1: A Thoughtful Estate Plan
Authorization for Final Disposition
Digital Planning Podcast Episode: Family Office Technology Solutions
Digital Planning Podcast Episode: The Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act
When it comes to inheritance, the UAE uses a mix of civil law and, in some cases, Sharia law. Religion, nationality, and whether a valid will has been registered are all things that affect what law applies....more
In most cases it is advisable to have a Jersey Will to cover investments held in Jersey, as this allows personal representatives to gather and realise or distribute assets more quickly. While a fast-track process can...more
When a loved one passes away, families are often faced with not only emotional challenges but also legal responsibilities. One of the most common processes they encounter is probate. Understanding probate can help families...more
The Supreme Court of British Columbia’s decision in Cusack v. Cusack, 2026 BCSC 461, is a clear and instructive authority for estate litigators, will‑makers, and adult children contemplating a wills variation claim. The case...more
The legislative framework in the UAE that regulates family and personal status matters has undergone a substantial transformation, transitioning to a more sophisticated and inclusive system. This transformation is anchored by...more
The media is filled with stories of deceased celebrities whose final wishes were either unknown or disputed. An important lesson: You can retain control of your visitation, funeral, and burial (or cremation) plans after...more
The “testamentary exception” allows those claiming under a will to discover the decedent’s communications with his or her lawyer-based on the understandable assumption that the decedent would want his or her wishes fulfilled....more
Welcome to The Legal Canvas, the podcast where law and creativity intersect. Hosted by Caryn Keppler ( https://www.offitkurman.com/caryn-keppler ), an estates and trusts attorney with extensive experience working with...more
With recent headlines around a Powerball winner in Delaware, many are thinking about what they would do in the event of a sudden windfall....more
Individuals who create or own valuable intellectual property face unique challenges in estate planning that traditional strategies may not adequately address. ...more
In the realm of litigation, the concept of “spoliation” of evidence is a critical issue. Spoliation refers to the destruction or alteration of evidence that could be pertinent to a legal proceeding. A recent case decision...more
Beginning July 1, 2026, Virginia has a new standard for undue influence in trust contest cases. For most trust contest cases in Virginia, the standard for undue influence will now involve a presumption that undue influence...more
From 6th April 2026, the inheritance tax landscape has shifted, making careful succession planning of even greater importance. What is the most significant of these changes? The answer to that is the reform of Agricultural...more
In Bernsen v. Allison, the settlor signed a new will in December of 2012 that left everything to his daughter and omitted the children from his deceased son. No. 14-22-00902-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 5171 (Tex. App.—Houston...more
“Gambit”: A calculated move, a stratagem. An example might be to buy a mineral interest with a long and complicated title history from the incarcerated son of a deceased parent and to bet on a court favoring your...more
Family heirlooms, jewelry, artwork, and treasured household items often carry far more emotional value than financial worth. Because of this, when these items are not included in your estate plan, they easily become sources...more
Attorney Who Assisted Decedent in Signing Will Not Disqualified as Witness to Execution of Will - Matter of Nires, 241 A.D.3d 555 (2d Dep’t 2025) - If an attorney assists a client in signing his will, is that attorney...more
The Superior Court of Connecticut, applying Connecticut law, has held that the question of whether a professional liability policy’s prior knowledge exclusion barred coverage for a malpractice action is an issue for the trier...more
Some people may assume that if they do not make a will, their assets will “automatically” go to their spouse or children. But Virginia’s intestacy laws do not always align with what families expect. Dying without a will,...more
Many people are familiar with so‑called “no contest” or in terrorem clauses—provisions in a will or trust that attempt to discourage lawsuits by threatening to cut off a beneficiary who challenges the document. While these...more
Christakos v. Boyadjis, 262 N.J. 447 (2026) - When does an attorney owe a non-client a duty of care? And when can that non-client bring forth an action for legal malpractice? Christakos v. Boyadjis, 262 N.J. 447 (2026),...more
Estate disputes often arise when disappointed beneficiaries challenge the validity of a will based on alleged lack of capacity, undue influence, or suspicious circumstances. While some claims raise legitimate concerns that...more
In addition to will contests, many estate disputes involve challenges to other estate-related documents such as beneficiary designations, pay-on-death designations (sometimes referred to as “POD”), or transfer-on-death...more
Beginning end-of-life care discussions long before a crisis arises, using clear, plain language like “dying” and “death” allows the person with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) time to understand and revisit...more
High-profile estate disputes often capture public attention because of the personalities involved. Beneath the headlines, these conflicts highlight all-too-frequent issues that arise in estates of all sizes. The ongoing legal...more