Estate disputes between siblings rarely begin as purely legal disagreements. We often find that what appears on the surface to be a disagreement about money or property is often rooted in grief, long-standing family dynamics, and deeply personal views about what is fair. When a parent dies, unresolved tensions can surface quickly, turning what should be a structured legal process into a difficult and, at times, adversarial situation.

Estate litigation lawyers across Canada are seeing a steady increase in undue influence estate disputes. Families are more frequently questioning whether a will truly reflects a loved one’s wishes or whether someone exerted pressure behind the scenes.

If you are facing a dispute over an estate and want to find alternatives to court for estate litigation, there are practical options worth considering. Taking a dispute to court can be stressful, expensive, and often takes years to resolve, especially with Ontario’s backlogged court system. Fortunately, with the guidance of an experienced estate lawyer, you can explore other ways to resolve the matter more efficiently and with less conflict. Mediation, arbitration, and med-arb are all effective alternatives that may help you avoid the courtroom entirely.

Challenging a will if you are unhappy with how a loved one's estate was handled is a common occurrence. Many people believe that only homemade wills can be challenged, while wills prepared by lawyers are ironclad. That is not true. Any will can be challenged in Ontario if you have the right reasons. As estate litigators, we are well versed in the legal reasons you may or may not be able to contest a will and your rights throughout the process. To help steer you in the right direction as to whether to contest a will, these are a few of the things you should consider before you go down this path.