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 […]
When you are thinking about how to plan for your estate needs in British Columbia, it is important for you to consider what will happen in the event you are incapacitated and no longer able to make financial or health care decisions for yourself. If you do not plan ahead, your family and loved ones […]
Circumstances for people in British Columbia will sometimes change, necessitating a corresponding alteration or revocation of a will. At other times, people may want to revive a previously revoked will, re-establishing it as the effective will upon their death. Provincial statutes have outlined the specific way that these goals may be met. In order to […]
Individuals who are concerned for their families upon their incapacitation or death have the option to write wills. This provides those individuals with a means through which they can express their wishes for the aspects that mean the most to them, such the who will be their executor of estate or who will have guardianship […]
Accidents and illnesses strike people no matter their age. When people are considering how to handle their estates and assets, they may also consider having plans in place if they become unable to make decisions for themselves or handle their own affairs. This can be an important consideration for all individuals who are over the […]
A large number of people die each year without a will. In the event that occurs, their assets will pass according to the provincial intestate succession laws. Intestate succession is defined by provincial law, and a judge will order the passing of property to heirs according to those laws. If a person dies with a […]
Everyone in British Columbia will eventually pass away, and planning for the inevitable is important in order to make certain one’s wishes are followed in terms of important decisions, types of end-of-life treatment and passing of assets to beneficiaries. With careful planning, people can make certain they have a degree of control over the important […]
The wills people leave to provide for their loved ones must be executed to have the intended effect. On March 31, 2014, the Parliament of British Columbia enacted a Wills, Estates and Succession Act that made some changes to the existing laws. While the new legislation was written to ease the inheritance process, it grants […]
Whether you have a large and complicated estate or one with more modest assets, you may want to further your estate planning in a fundamental way by drafting a will. In doing so, you can dictate the terms of your estate’s eventual fate and rest at ease knowing those terms will be carried out according […]
The legal representative of a decedent is the individual either appointed by the court as the administrator of the estate or named executor of the will in British Columbia and other provinces. In Quebec, this role applies to the person named liquidator of the estate as well. A representative has certain legal responsibilities to fulfill, […]
In British Columbia a will that is not in writing and is not witnessed by two people may not be accepted as valid. The requirement to have the will in writing increases the odds of determining the identity of the person who created the will. Knowing who wrote the will makes it easier to determine […]
Personal representatives may be discharged from an estate either through their own application for discharge or by the application of another party. There are several reasons why a personal representative may need to be removed. Courts may grant a party’s motion to remove a personal representative if it appears the representative is unable to manage […]