It’s not uncommon for people to make loans to their family or close friends. Common reasons include helping with a down payment on a house or to kickstart a new business venture. However, many people don’t consider what would happen…
Name changes are common, whether due to personal reasons or marital status. If someone has changed their name and is listed in a will, they might wonder how it affects their inheritance. In a lot of cases, the answer to…
When people choose to write their own wills without the assistance of a professional, it’s not uncommon for there to be vague, non-legally binding provisions in the will. Words and statements that are expressions of wishes are precatory provisions. Precatory…
People are increasingly mobile – many are born in one country, go to school in another, and retire abroad. After living in a number of different countries, legally, where is home? While the answer might seem obvious to you, this…
Although wills are private documents, there are a number of people who may be entitled to a copy. Executors are responsible for distributing these copies, as they are in possession of the original will. However, many executors are unsure who…
Many people assume they can gift from their estate in their will in any way they please. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes, the courts can rule a gift is void and modify a will. The first exception is for…
For many parents, it's clear that their children will inherit most or all of their estate. However, the best means of giving their children their inheritance is less clear. Some worry that getting a large sum of money too young…
Sometimes, a person’s estate isn't large enough to pay all of the debt they owe to creditors from their lifetime. This is called an insolvent estate. When this happens, loved ones and beneficiaries are often worried that they will be…
Relocating to a new country means adapting to its estate laws. Your old will may not be valid there. It might need significant updates, or even a complete rewrite to ensure its validity in your new home. But, what about…
While BC has relatively generous estate laws for children who have been unfairly disinherited, estate planning or litigation can become complicated for families who have either adopted children or given children up for adoption. When there are no valid reasons…
