RBC Life paid the proceeds into court in August 2024 after the brothers disagreed over entitlement, and stepped out of the fight.
Dimitri moved for payment out of court; his brother Oleg argued the money should be divided equally.
Oleg submitted that their mother named Dimitri only for administrative convenience, that she had limited English and relied on Dimitri for her finances, and that Dimitri had promised in Oleg’s presence to share the proceeds.
Justice Dietrich found the record pointed the other way, noting the mother consulted two named RBC Life advisors about her investments and left handwritten Post-it notes with questions for them, one reading, “Do I have to hav a Vill 2 sons Dim + Oleg.”
The judge called the notes “compelling evidence that the Deceased was seeking advice from her advisors at RBC Life,” but found they showed no intention to split the proceeds.