Most business owners assume their will has them covered. It probably doesn't. Ontario business lawyer Sonya, founder and managing lawyer of Zable Law, joins Wendy and Jodi. Zable Law is a flat-fee firm for Canadian business owners, and before law Sonia spent nearly a decade building and then selling a restaurant in the Picton area. She explains what actually protects your family and your business when you're gone.

The three start with the basics: what a will is, why it still needs a real "wet" signature, and why you can't wait until your deathbed. That's where capacity comes in, and once it's gone, some decisions (like beneficiary changes) are locked in. From there they get into business wills. Sonya explains how a separate business will works alongside a shareholders' agreement, what to do if your province doesn't allow secondary wills, and a scenario to keep you up at night: your 50% of the company goes to your son, and your cousin, who owns the other half, never agreed to work with him. They also cover trusts for young heirs, the difference between a sole proprietorship and a corporation when the owner dies, and the personal guarantees hiding in your business lease.

Then the myth-busting. Your lawyer won't run your estate. Your executor is the one who carries the responsibility. DIY templates and AI tools are risky, and for business owners Sonya's advice is "never, never." Common-law partners may not inherit what you assume they will. Sonia also shares a practical way to take the fear out of legal bills: ask for a flat fee.