Testamentary capacity describes the mental ability required to create a valid will. When individuals draft their wills, they must be of sound mind and capable of understanding the implications of their decisions. This is crucial in estate planning. It ensures…
Estate disputes are usually thought of as conflicts that arise after someone passes away. In some cases, these disputes begin while the will writer is still alive and can change their will. Pre-death litigation involves challenging a testator’s estate plan…
Almost every estate has some assets left after all the gifts have been distributed and estate expenses have been paid – this is called the residue of the estate. In some cases, the residue of the estate is the largest…
In order to write a valid will in BC, the writer must be able to understand and accept their will. This is called the testamentary capacity to make a will. Often, a will-writer loses testamentary capacity after suffering an injury…
As a small business owner, you put time, money and care into your business. The vast majority of businesses in Canada are small businesses, or are owned and operated by families. For many, it’s not just a source of income,…
In recent months, British Columbia has introduced and passed a number of bills to address the ongoing housing crisis. These bills address a wide range of housing policy issues, and will impact many people. Broadly, the bills all aim to…
The BC government first introduced the BC Speculation and Vacancy tax in 2018 to incentivize homeowners to occupy their vacant properties. The tax also aims to generate revenue for housing initiatives, ultimately creating a more affordable housing market. Recently, the…
It’s not uncommon for a will-writer to want to make a modification to an outdated will that they’ve written years ago. Often times, will-writers only want to make small changes to their will – maybe changing a single sentence in…
It's that time of year! Victoria News' has launched the 2024 Best of the City awards - where you're able to vote on your favourite Greater Victoria businesses! Voting includes a wide variety of categories, including best attraction, best ice…
In estate law, gifts and the context under which they were given is one of the most common issue that families litigate over. There are many different types of gifts a testator can give, each with specific requirements to be…
