Creating a will is a crucial step in planning for the future and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. While it may seem daunting, especially from a legal perspective, it’s a process that everyone should undertake to secure their family’s financial future. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the steps of…

Life is filled with uncertainties, and while we all hope for the best, it’s crucial to prepare for the unexpected. One essential legal document that everyone should consider having is a will. As a Wills and Estates Lawyer in beautiful British Columbia, I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous peace of mind and protection that a…

When a person is dying, their intentions on distributing their assets may change after their Last Will and Testament (the “Will”) was prepared.  When this occurs, there may not be enough time to see a lawyer to arrange to have a new Will prepared or changed. Notes, letters, or recorded data may be left behind…

This article is part of a series of educational blog posts created by a team of Watson Goepel women lawyers in light of International Women’s Day 2023, to empower, celebrate, and encourage women in Canada.   In certain cultures, women are gifted substantially less under a will compared to their brothers.   In Prakash and Singh v Singh et al, 2006…

You have probably heard the phrase, “With a will, there’s a way…” As estate planners, we take that quite literally! Good planning now can help reduce probate fees, taxes and unintended anguish for your beneficiaries, friends and loved ones, after you are gone. In previous weeks we talked about two of the fundamental elements for…

In our previous article, we have touched on the basics of setting up an estate plan. Apart from making a Will, you can also consider setting up your Trusts as part of your estate plan. Do you know an estate plan can include two types of trusts? Let’s recap on the concept of Trusts A…

Let’s face it, making an estate plan is probably not the activity on the top of your to-do list. Most Canadians do not have a valid will. However, having an estate plan is one of the most important things you can do for the people you care about. If you are new to the concept…

In September we reported on the introduction of Bill 21-2020, which included the proposal of a series of long-awaited amendments to B.C.’s Wills, Estates, and Succession Act that would allow a will to be witnessed electronically, by individuals in different physical locations. The valid use of electronic witnessing was enabled by an interim Ministerial Order…

With the introduction of Bill 21-2020, British Columbia has proposed a series of long-awaited amendments to its Wills, Estates, and Succession Act that will modernize the will-making process in the province. The proposed amendments will enable BC Courts to accept a will that is created, recorded, transmitted or stored on an electronic device (such as…

Given the current climate of uncertainty, with many of us concerned with the health and well-being of our loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, thoughts naturally go to what we can be doing to make sure our affairs are in order and that those we care about are protected. An estate plan is an essential…