For a will to be legally valid in British Columbia, it must meet three main requirements. The writer must put it in writing, sign it at the end, and make this signature in the presence of two or more witnesses.…
In British Columbia, settled law entitles estate executors to remuneration for their work in administering an estate. In fact, this was restated by the Supreme Court of Canada in Cowper-Smith v Morgan, a case argued and won by League and…
The most essential part of any real estate deal is the purchase and sale agreement. It is the contract which legally binds both the purchaser and the seller of property to completing the sale. Often, your real estate agent will…
In British Columbia, will writers have many estate planning tools at their disposal to create a plan that suits their individual needs best. In previous articles, we’ve discussed many tools which will writers can use to their advantage. However, large…
In British Columbia, couples that have already agreed on the terms of their divorce can save time and money by filing for a desk order divorce. This saves the couple from having to appear in front of a judge to…
In British Columbia, will writers have many options to structure their estate in ways that suit them and their beneficiaries. In previous articles, we’ve covered the basics inter-vivos gifting and the use of trusts to minimize probate fees. This strategy…
Trust accounts are a popular tool in estate planning that will writers use to maximize their estate’s value and gain greater control over the distribution of their assets. Our recent blog post on the use of trust accounts in estate…
People can feel overwhelmed by the number of choices they must make when drawing up estate plans. It can be particularly difficult when one’s plans include strategies to increase the value of their estate, such as using trusts to hold…
The Covid-19 pandemic and related lockdowns unfortunately resulted in a wave of divorces in British Columbia and around the world. In British Columbia, couples who already agree on the terms of their divorce can file for a desk order divorce.…
