Taxes halved their inheritance. Could anything be done?

When both parents die unexpectedly, the people left behind often discover that a large share of the estate goes to taxes, and they are left asking whether anything could have changed the outcome. Allan is honest here: once a death has happened, especially a sudden one, most of the tax is locked in. A final paycheque is taxable, registered savings are generally taxed when there is no surviving spouse to roll them to, and gains on property like a cottage are largely set. Where he sees room is beforehand, through planning that anticipates more than one outcome. Life insurance, in particular, does not erase the tax bill but hands children tax-free cash quickly, so they are not forced to sell a family property in a hurry while grieving. It is a sobering, practical read for families with property or sizeable registered accounts.