In BC, there are strict rules that govern when a will can be deemed a valid will: it must be (1) in writing, (2) signed and (3) witnessed by two or more people. In some cases, invalid documents can be…
As part of an estate executor’s responsibilities, they must act in the best interests of the beneficiaries so that they receive the largest possible inheritance they’re entitled to. Executors have a fiduciary duty to act to the best of their…
When a loved one passes away unexpectedly, family and friends may be left with no idea who responsible for planning the funeral, or how the deceased would have wanted it to be arranged. As a general rule of thumb, the…
It’s important that estate planners create detailed plans that they're happy with before they pass away. Estate planning goes well beyond simply writing a will, and it’s easy to forget about important pieces of a complete estate plan. In this…
A BC woman found dead without any legal will written in her name left a hand-written note in her car explaining her final wishes for how she wanted her estate to be distributed. The question before the courts was whether…
When reading about gift-giving in the context of estate law, you’ve probably come across the term inter vivos several times. An inter vivos gift is property that was transferred while the gift-giver was living. The opposite of an inter vivos…
With the world quickly becoming more and more digital, people are constantly looking for new ways to go paperless. For many documents and papers, it’s easy and safe to keep a copy on your computer, phone, or in 'the cloud'.…
As part of writing a valid will in BC, the will-writer must have the testamentary capacity at the time of writing the will. As described in the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, someone with testamentary capacity is vaguely defined as…
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…
It’s common for people to desire a sense of privacy and confidentiality when they prepare their last will and testament. For some, the risk that loved ones might be insulted or angered by the inheritances you chose to gift them…
