In the case of Pouliot v. Pouliot, two brothers, Claude and Michel, disputed their mother's estate. The allegations were serious and mutual. Each accused the other of having abused their mother, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, to appropriate her money or impose themselves on her will. Claude alleged that Michel had made more than 35 unauthorized bank withdrawals, retained loaned sums, and taken advantage of their mother's vulnerability. Michel, for his part, accused Claude of having isolated their mother, having her sign a will in his favour when she was no longer capable, and having used her funds for his own personal expenses.

The Court had to decide: which of the two had truly betrayed their mother's trust to the point of being declared unworthy to inherit? Contrary to what both brothers hoped, the Court found that neither deserved to inherit from their mother. Both brothers were declared unworthy to succeed her. The Court also removed both brothers from their role as liquidators of the estate. Their mother's nephew was appointed to replace them. The Court concluded that Michel had financially abused his mother by appropriating funds without her informed consent, despite a notarized loan of $50,000. As for Claude, he was found equally at fault: he isolated his mother, manipulated the drafting of a will in his favour, and commingled his own property with that of the deceased, thereby creating a conflict of interest.

Key Takeaway: Inheriting Is Not an Automatic Right. Unworthiness to inherit arises when relatives abuse their power or a parent's vulnerability. This serious consequence aims to sanction highly reprehensible acts against a deceased person. Financial abuse, manipulation or undue influence of a will, isolation of a vulnerable person, or commingling of estates may constitute grounds for unworthiness.

The law stipulates that "may be declared unworthy to inherit" :

1° Anyone who has inflicted abuse on the deceased or otherwise had highly reprehensible behaviour towards them;

2° Anyone who has concealed, altered, or destroyed in bad faith the deceased's will;

3° Anyone who has interfered with the testator in the drafting, modification, or revocation of their will." The role of liquidator of an estate is an important responsibility: one must act with prudence and diligence. Serious breaches may lead to removal. Alzheimer's disease is an aggravating factor: it renders the person more vulnerable and requires heightened vigilance from their loved ones.

Learn More About Legal Terminology :

• Liquidator of the estate : person responsible for settling a deceased's estate, paying debts, and distributing property according to the will or law.

• Removal : a Court decision that officially removes someone from their function due to fault, abuse, or mismanagement.

• Unworthiness to inherit : a sanction that deprives an heir of their right to inherit due to serious or malicious behaviour towards the deceased or the estate.

Sources :

Civil Code of Quebec : art. 621

Ref : Pouliot v. Pouliot, 2025 QCCS 2028

To read the full judgment : https://canlii.ca/t/kcsfb