Couple never lived together, but court finds they are “spouses” for BC Estate Law
The definition of spouse in BC’s Wills, Estates, and Succession Act says that two people are “spouses” if “they have lived with each other in ... Continued
Tax issues in estate planning
Lawyers practicing in will and estate planning benefit from also having an understanding of basic tax considerations in order to prepare an effective plan, administer ... Continued
Will a marriage agreement stop a court from varying a will?
For almost 100 years, we have had legislation in BC that allows a court to vary a will to cause a larger part of the ... Continued
Drafting a Will In Light of the Rule in Howe v. Earl of Dartmouth
When deciding how to distribute property under a will, a will-maker will sometimes wish to delay when those assets are transferred to a particular beneficiary, ... Continued
The Sensitive Issue of Burial
Issues surrounding the control of human remains and burial sites may involve substantial emotional, cultural, and legal issues. Most relevant provincial legislation across Canada gives ... Continued
The Executor’s Year
For those involved in estate administration there is, from time to time, reference made to the “executor’s year.” The following will discuss two questions which ... Continued
Legal Trend: evidence of testamentary intent can ‘save’ otherwise invalid wills or gifts
Background The recently reported case of Bach Estate (Re)[1] is the first decision to rule on section 43 of the Wills, Estate and Succession Act[2] ... Continued
Another leading case by our estates team: Court Confirms Multiple Wills for Business Owners
We recently acted in the first BC court case to confirm that multiple wills may be used to reduce probate taxes for business owners. We ... Continued
Probating a USA Will and BC Assets
Obtaining a grant of probate from the BC court provides assurance for anyone dealing with an estate that the deceased’s will is legally valid and ... Continued
The law on out of province Litigation Guardians in BC
Under the BC Supreme Court Civil Rules (“SCCR”) a proceeding brought by or against a person under legal disability must be started or defended by ... Continued
Which Jurisdiction’s laws will govern your estate?
Introduction In our globalized world, it is not uncommon for people to own property or have residences in multiple jurisdictions. The international aspect of a ... Continued
Case Comment – S.A. v MVHC, 2017 BCCA 2
This case provided rulings on a few key issues: Is an interest in a discretionary trust an asset? Yes. The interest has no legal value ... Continued