When people ask me what kind of law I practice, my go-to answer is: “Have you watched Succession? I’m basically Gerri.” I am definitely NOT Gerri, but that one sentence quickly conveys the essence of what I do—helping people navigate inheritance disputes.
Mainstream legal dramas often focus on corporate battles, criminal law, or the eternal Law & Order. But estate litigation? It’s rarely in the spotlight. Yet, these cases are as dramatic as they come, with family conflicts, high stakes, and surprising twists. Inspired by my colleague James’ blog on litigation movies, here are four TV episodes (and one bonus movie) that dive into the world of estates, wills, and inheritance disputes.
1. Succession – All Four Glorious Seasons
The title says it all. Succession is the ultimate portrayal of estate disputes, where the stakes are multi-billion-dollar empires. The Roy family’s internal warfare over patriarch Logan Roy’s legacy mirrors the real-life challenges of estate litigation: power struggles, contested wills (was it an underline, or a strikethrough?), and fractured relationships.
Why Watch: The characters are fundamentally unlikable, yet you’ll find yourself rooting for different ones throughout the series. It’s a masterpiece of drama, satire, and dysfunction.
2. Suits – Season 1, Episode 11: Rules of the Game
Jessica Pearson tasks Harvey Specter and Louis Litt with dividing the estate of a recently deceased client between his feuding daughters. Louis represents Madison, the bitter half-sister, while Harvey and Mike handle Kelsey, the father’s favourite. The battle centers on a tabloid company, Nothing but the Truth, which each sister wants – or doesn’t want – for very different reasons.
Fun Fact: Suits was filmed in Toronto, and Pearson Hardman’s lobby is the lobby in the Bay-Adelaide Centre.
3. Better Call Saul – Season 1, Episode 5: Alpine Shepherd Boy
Before Saul Goodman became the defence attorney for drug cartels, Jimmy McGill specialized in elder law. This episode features him helping Mrs. Strauss draft a will focused on distributing her valuable Hummel figurines – worth thousands of dollars (I checked). It’s a poignant and quirky look at estate planning’s more personal side.
Why Watch: It’s a reminder that estates aren’t always about millions—they’re often about sentimental value and family heirlooms.
4. The Good Wife – Season 5, Episode 10: The Decision Tree
Alicia Florrick finds herself at the center of a probate battle after a deceased client bequeaths her $12 million in a surprising will. The case escalates when a second will surfaces, written in magic marker and witnessed by an escort. The episode captures the chaos of contested wills and the courtroom drama that ensues.
Best Moment: Robyn’s recording app and Clarke Hayden’s bombshell discovery of the contending will.
Bonus: Woman in Gold [2015]
Though not a traditional estate litigation story, Woman in Gold captures the essence of inheritance and the fight to reclaim a family’s legacy. Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), an elderly Holocaust survivor, embarks on a legal battle to recover a priceless family heirloom: Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (dubbed “Woman in Gold“). The painting, stolen by the Nazis during World War II, now hangs in a renowned Austrian gallery and is considered a national treasure.
Altmann, with the help of inexperienced lawyer E. Randol Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), uncovers the truth: the painting was never legitimately bequeathed to the museum but instead taken from her family under duress. Their fight spans continents, involves the Supreme Court of the United States, and culminates in an arbitration in Vienna.
Why Watch: The movie is a profound meditation on what inheritance truly means—beyond wealth or property, it’s about reclaiming stolen history, family dignity, and justice.
Closing Thoughts:
People often ask, “If you’re not Gerri, who are you?”I like to think I’m Kendall on most days, but some days, I’m definitely Cousin Greg. Estate litigation, much like Succession, is all about navigating human relationships – with a little legal finesse.
So, grab some popcorn and dive into these stories. Whether you’re a lawyer or just love a good drama, these episodes and movies prove that estates law can be just as gripping as any legal thriller.
Boris