Court Rejects Daughters’ Claim that Dad and Stepmom Separated Prior to his Death
If spouses separate before one of them dies, there is a right to property division under the Family Law Act at the instance of either the surviving…
Court Clarifies Costs of Estate Litigation in Complex Family Dispute
This Vancouver estate litigation between siblings over their father’s estate—and the costs of the estate litigation itself—lasted nearly a decade. The BC Court of Appeal’s ruling in…
“Reprehensible” Conduct in Family Law Case Draws Over $1.2 Million Costs Award
A wealthy businessman adopted a battle plan designed to punish his estranged wife on multiple fronts in protracted Vancouver family litigation. The BC court found that the…
When Can the Court Remove an Executor or Trustee?
A will-maker is entitled to appoint whom they would like to administer their estate, and that discretion should not be lightly interfered with. That being said, in…
Special Costs of All Parties Ordered to be Paid Out of Estate Following BC Will Challenge
We have previously discussed the issue of who pays the costs of a BC will challenge. The general rule in estate litigation is that the unsuccessful party…