Estate Planning for Business Owners: Succession Planning for Your Company Quick Answer: Business succession planning in Canada is the process of deciding in advance who will take over your company and how ownership will transfer when you retire, become incapacitated, or pass away. Because your shares are taxed as if sold at death under the…
How to Contest a Will in BC: Your Guide to Challenging a Will Quick Answer: Contesting a will in British Columbia means asking a court to set aside a will because it is not legally valid, or to change how an estate is divided because it did not provide fairly for a spouse or child….
Avoiding Probate in BC: 5 Ways to Simplify Your Estate Settlement Quick Answer: Avoiding probate in BC means reducing the value of the assets that pass through the court’s probate process, which lowers the fees your family pays and speeds up settlement. In BC, the probate fee is $6 for every $1,000 of estate value…
Quick Answer: A separation agreement in BC is a legally binding contract between separating spouses or common-law partners that resolves property division, spousal support, parenting arrangements, and debt. Without one, BC’s Family Law Act default rules apply automatically, which may not reflect your intentions. A properly drafted separation agreement protects your estate, limits your exposure…
Estate planning is essential for any couple, but for common-law partners in British Columbia, it’s especially critical. While BC law does offer certain protections, they’re not as automatic or comprehensive as those provided to married spouses. Without the right documents in place, your partner could face legal complications during an already emotional time. Here’s what…
Dying without a will in British Columbia, known as dying intestate, can lead to complex legal and financial consequences for your loved ones. Without clear instructions, your estate is distributed according to BC’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA), not your personal wishes. Understanding how intestacy works is essential to protect your family, preserve your…
As more of life moves online, our estate plans need to keep up. From banking apps and cryptocurrency, to social media and photo storage, digital assets have become just as important as physical ones, yet many Canadians overlook them when planning their estate. Failing to account for digital assets can leave loved ones locked out…
Preparing for your first will or estate planning meeting doesn’t have to be daunting. The good news is that a little preparation goes a long way in making the discussion easier, and more productive. By gathering the right documents and information ahead of time, you enable your estate lawyer to provide the best advice, and…
In a digital world, your online presence doesn’t disappear when you do. From Instagram photos to TikTok videos, X (formerly Twitter) posts to YouTube channels , your social media accounts form part of your digital legacy. But what happens to these platforms when you pass away? And who controls them? In British Columbia, your digital…
When someone passes away in British Columbia, their estate may need to go through probate , a legal process that confirms the validity of the will and grants the executor authority to act on behalf of the estate. One of the most common questions families ask is: how much does probate actually cost? Here’s what…