It's very common for parents to be concerned about how their children will use their inheritances and many worry about assets falling outside of the family - often as a result of subsequent divorce or separation of the child. For…
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…
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…
When a married couple gets a divorce, the spouses sometimes forget to change their will to reflect this major life change – to remove the ex-spouse from their will. When this happens, the divorced spouse can be left receiving a…
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…
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…
As part of an estate plan, people often elect to give inter-vivos (before death) gifts to their loved ones to minimize probate fees and to allow loved ones to enjoy the inheritance as soon as possible. Everyone should be aware…
It’s not uncommon for people to make loans to their family or friends – often to help put a down payment on a house, to purchase a vehicle, or to kickstart a new business venture. What many people don't consider…
People are extremely mobile today – many people are born in one country, go to school in another country, work in a different country and finally retire in another country. After living in a number of different countries, legally, where…
