As people get older, it is generally recommended that they appoint a power of attorney (POA). Without fully understanding the extent of the duties and responsibilities, people often accept the role, intending to be as helpful as possible during difficult…
If a claimant can prove that an interested party unduly influenced the testator at the time of writing, courts in BC can rule the will invalid. Undue influence is described in British Columbia as “An influence causing the execution of…
In BC, most will-writers should expect to have their will go through the probate process. This is a process where the courts verify that the will is real and legally valid. When a will goes through probate, the estate must…
When a married couple gets a divorce, the spouses sometimes forget to change their will to reflect this major life change – to remove the ex-spouse from their will. If a person divorces and doesn’t update their will, their ex-spouse…
Those involved with estate administration may have seen the phrases “per stirpes” or “per capita” in a will and wondered what they mean. Generally, these terms clarify how a gift will be distributed if the originally beneficiary passes away before…
The job of an executor is not easy; there's a number of different responsibilities to prepare the estate for distribution. Many executors agree to take on the role without fully understanding the responsibilities and duties that it entails. Many executors…
Due to the nature of estate planning, it’s important that any errors are identified before it’s too late. By the time the plan is executed, the testator has already passed away and is unable to clarify any ambiguities. In this…
When a will writer dies, the executor named in their will handles the administration of the deceased's estate, ensuring the estate is distributed as intended. This can be a lengthy process, especially when executors are handling large, complex estates. In…
It’s not uncommon for will writers to want to make changes to their will at some point. In fact, will writers are encouraged to frequently review their wills and make changes where necessary. Sometimes, will writers are in a different…
Unfortunately, when a person nears the end of their life, it's not uncommon for family members or close friends to exploit the situation for financial gain. This can involve exercising undue influence on the will-writer to leave large gifts in…
