DIY Will Declared Valid, as Were Gifts to Signing Witnesses
DIY Will Declared Valid, as Were Gifts to Signing Witnesses In Wolk v. Wolk, 2021 BCSC 1881, a BC man named Dawson Wolk prepared his own will…
Unsigned Will Given Effect Despite Fluctuating Mental State of Will-Maker
In this article we will discuss important points from Gibb Estate (Re), 2021 BCSC 2461 https://www.bccourts.ca/jdb-txt/sc/21/24/2021BCSC2461.htm on mental capacity, validity of wills, and the court’s duty to…
Dementia Raises Suspicion that Late-in-Life Will Not Valid
A late-in-life Will that disinherits certain children. Dementia and cognitive decline of the will-maker. Secrecy surrounding preparation of the new will. All of this led to a…
BC Court Declares Unsigned Will To Be Valid
In March 2020, the world ground to a halt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Offices were shuttered and in-person meetings were only permitted for essential…
BC Estate Litigation FAQ: Can a handwritten document alter an earlier will?
A handwritten document can be effective as a will or codicil to a will if the court is satisfied that the document is a deliberate or fixed…
Beneficiary Designations: Review Regularly and Update As Needed
Beneficiary Designations I have seen many problems for loved ones when a person dies before they had a chance to update their beneficiary designations, including unintended tax…
Judge Rectifies Error from an “Accidental Slip” in BC Will
Can a BC Will be “corrected” if it contains an accidental slip or omission? In Jamt Estate (Re), 2021 BCSC 788 it was not noticed until after…
Vancouver Estate Litigation: Are “Pour-Over” Clauses Valid in BC Wills?
A multi-million dollar BC estate was the subject of recent Vancouver estate litigation. The Court in Waslenchuk Estate, 2020 BCSC 1929 was asked to examine the interrelationship…