Free, plain-language guides on wills, probate, and estate planning for BC residents. Know your options before you meet with a lawyer.
Enter your estate value and instantly calculate BC probate fees. See the breakdown, effective rate, and what's included.
What happens to your assets, your children, and your wishes if you die without a will — and why even a simple estate needs one.
IntestacyBC's intestacy rules decide who gets what. The results often surprise people — especially common-law couples and blended families.
CostsLawyer fees, notary fees, and online options compared. What you're paying for and when it's worth spending more.
LawThe one law that governs wills, inheritance, and estates in BC — broken down section by section.
PlanningDocuments, beneficiaries, property titles, digital assets — everything you need to organize, in one checklist.
PlanningOne protects you after death. The other while you're alive. Most people only think about the will — the POA may matter more.
ProbateWhat probate is, when it's required, how long it takes, and what it costs. A complete guide for executors and families.
ProbateJoint tenancy, beneficiary designations, trusts — the legal strategies and the trade-offs each one carries.
ExecutorsYou've been named executor. Your legal responsibilities, timeline, and the mistakes that create personal liability.
RelationshipsAfter 2 years you're a "spouse" under WESA — but proving it without a will means court. Why unmarried couples need this most.
DisputesSpouses and children can ask a court to rewrite your will. How wills variation works, who can claim, and how to protect your wishes.
FinancialBeneficiary designations override your will. How to get them right — and the tax trap most people miss.
FinancialMortgages, credit cards, loans — who pays what, and when your family is protected.
PropertyJoint tenancy, tenants in common, sole ownership — how your BC home transfers depends on how the title is held.
DigitalCrypto, online accounts, social media — what happens to your digital life, and how to plan for it.
DIYYes, but the rules are specific and mistakes are found after death. What makes a DIY will valid and where the risks are.
UpdatesCodicils vs new wills, what marriage and divorce do to your will, and the life events that trigger a review.
PlanningThe qualities that matter, common mistakes, and whether to choose family or a professional.
ChildrenIf both parents die, who raises your kids? Without a will, a judge decides. With a will, you do.
FamilyStepchildren don't inherit under intestacy. Competing claims from spouses and children. Why blended families need a will most.
PlanningWhat to bring, what to ask, and how to make the most of your first consultation with a BC estate lawyer.
Health CareWho makes medical decisions if you can't? Section 7 vs Section 9, and why this may be your most important document.
NewcomersIs your foreign will valid? Do you need two wills? What BC law means for immigrants and their families.
BusinessBuy-sell agreements, key person insurance, and succession planning — what happens to your business when you can't run it.
PlanningWhen a trust adds value and when it's expensive complexity. Testamentary trusts, living trusts, and the Henson trust for special needs.
TaxNo inheritance tax in Canada — but death triggers a deemed disposition. Where the tax hits and how to reduce it.
FinancialJoint accounts bypass probate — usually. The resulting trust trap and when "convenience" accounts backfire.
FamilyGuardian appointments, life insurance, and trusts for children — the complete estate planning guide for single parents.
PracticalLawyer's office, home safe, or safety deposit box? Plus the BC Wills Registry and the one place to never keep it.
PlanningYou don't own a home — do you still need a will? Yes. Employer insurance, RRSPs, children, and what happens to your lease.