Sometimes, will writers are aware that a gift in their will is going to cause conflict between loved ones and could lead to litigation after their passing. In an attempt to prevent legal action from being taken, will writers can…
As people get older, it is generally recommended that they appoint a power of attorney (POA). Without fully understanding the extent of the duties and responsibilities, people often accept the role, intending to be as helpful as possible during difficult…
Sometimes, children are unpleasantly surprised to learn that one of their siblings is receiving a larger inheritance from their parents than they are, even though they shared a similar relationship with their parent. Feeling like they've been treated unfairly, they…
Wills in BC can be ruled invalid if a claimant can prove the testator was under undue influence from an interested party at the time of the will writing. Undue influence is described in British Columbia as “An influence causing…
There’s no doubt that trampoline parks are enjoyable for everyone, but this fun often comes with a huge risk of injury. News stories of people who are injured at trampoline parks filing lawsuits are only becoming more frequent, as those…
In BC, most will-writers should expect to have their will go through the probate process, where the courts verify that the will is real and legally valid. When a will goes through probate, the estate is to pay approximately 1.4%…
For those familiar with estate planning, you may have seen the phrases “per stirpes” or “per capita” in a will and wondered what these terms mean. Generally, these are terms used to clarify how a gift is to be distributed…
The job of an executor is no easy task; it can include a number of different responsibilities as the executor prepares the estate for distribution to its beneficiaries. Many executors agree to take on the role without fully understanding the…
Due to the nature of estate planning, it’s important that any errors in an estate plan are identified before it’s too late. By the time the estate plan is executed, the testator has already passed away and is unable to…
BC has some of the most favourable estate laws for children who have been unfairly disinherited by their parents. The courts insist that parents provide 'adequate provisions for the proper maintenance and support' of their children unless they have legally…
