Have you thought about a future time in your life when you may not be competent to make decisions for yourself? Having a power of attorney in place can give you true peace of mind. The person assigned this task can be hand-picked by you in order to ensure that your best interests are foremost […]
When you think of estate administration and probate, you think it must be really complicated and hard to understand. As of March 2014, the Wills, Estates and Succession Act modernized the law in British Columbia. They made it somewhat easier to understand and put to use. The financial institution that holds your assets is part […]
When you have a will in place, you get a sense of peace and you know that no matter what happens, your children know what is supposed to happen. According to the New Wills, Estates and Succession Act, there are many changes to the law. First of all, before the new law was enacted, a […]
When you think of advance care planning, you automatically think of what you want to happen when you can’t speak for yourself. It is important to choose someone to give your power of attorney to so that your wishes can take effect. What are your values? This comes into play when you are thinking about […]
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation is being sued for over $18 million by one of the provinces largest casino companies. Great Canadian Gaming says that they only decided to pursue litigation after efforts to resolve matters amicably over the last few years were unsuccessful. The dispute concerns money that BCLC allegedly continues to collect for […]
British Columbia residents interested in probate and estate planning issues may want some information on the different types of trusts. Depending on how they are used, there may be issues with the trust changing categories. In estate planning law, there are two major types of trusts: inter vivos and testamentary. Testamentary trusts are created at […]
When two or more people wish to sue the same defendant for the defendant’s wrongful actions in British Columbia, they may do so either separately or instead try to file a class action civil lawsuit. Provincial law outlines the procedure plaintiffs seeking to file a class action lawsuit must go through in order to file. […]
In British Columbia, the grounds for appealing a federal conviction are governed by Criminal Code sections 674 and 675. Valid grounds for appeal vary based on the specifics of the case, conviction and defendant. The rules are different, for example, if the case was decided on summary conviction or by regular verdict. A person who […]
In some cases, after a loved one has passed, family members may be shocked at a will that was left behind. You may question whether your loved one validly executed the will, and you may not know what to do to challenge seemingly unfair or nonsensical distributions of assets. Provincial law allows people to challenge […]
When a person in British Columbia dies, leaving behind a safety deposit box leased or rented either solely in his or her name or shared with another person, the law provides how the box should be opened and handled. This is important to ensure that the contents of the safety deposit box are correctly accounted […]
When a person dies with a will in British Columbia, the court may grant probate of the will or administration of the estate upon a showing of several things. First, the court will need to make a determination that the will offered for probate is valid. The court will also need to find that the […]
The B.C. Court of Appeal hears both civil and criminal appeals, and it has been the highest court in British Columbia for over 100 years. However, the Court of Appeal does not hear appeals of civil cases involving sums of less than $25,000. These cases initially go before a Provincial Court, and appeals are sent […]