I Have a Will, But How Do I Know if I Need to Update it?

On , In Estate Administration

Just over one half of B.C. adults have a valid Will, yet many of us fail to regularly review and update our estate planning documents to ensure that they continue to reflect our current situation and wishes. Updating your will is important. A comprehensive personal and estate plan for B.C. adults includes not only a…

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The Battling Disinherited

On , In Estate Administration

Suffering death in the family is always a difficult affair, which is only made more difficult when family members start dragging each other through court. A death can open old wounds and in grief people sometimes insist on extreme courses of action. Unfortunately, there is also a growing sense of entitlement in today’s society. Children […]

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Haunted by Lawsuits

On , In Estate Administration

I think it would surprise some people to realize how often lawsuits are started or continued by or against someone who has passed away. When we die, our property, assets, legal obligations and contracts continue on and are assumed by our estate. Our estate is managed by the person appointed as our personal representative or […]

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How do you disinherit someone in BC?

On , In Estate Administration

I have written before about British Columbia’s Wills Variation Act and the requirement in our province to make “adequate provision” in our wills for our spouse and children. This time, I will talk about the justification that the Court needs in order to respect your wishes to disinherit your spouse or children. British Columbia recognizes […]

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It’s mine and I’ll leave it to whomever I please!

On , In Estate Administration

You can’t take it with you, but you can leave behind instructions in a will. The question is, will your instructions be followed? If you have decided to disinherit your children, or to cut your spouse out of the will, perhaps not. Adequate Provisions In British Columbia, we have an act called the Wills Variation […]

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How do you cut a Picasso in half? The sentimental side of inheritance planning

On , In Estate Administration

People writing their wills are generally planning for an event in the distant future, and it can be difficult to specifically plan for every possibility. There are many important will considerations that should find their way into a solid estate plan, including fairly providing for your loved ones, providing clear direction on how your wishes […]

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