Coping with the death of a loved one can be painful enough without doubts about their will's validity. This document is supposed to reflect a person's last wishes, and it is a critical component of closing their estate and finalizing their affairs. If someone created...
Vancouver Estate Litigation Blog
Estate administration complications that can lead to litigation
A death in the family is a tragic event. Between the grief and sadness, loved ones can struggle to cope with the loss for quite some time. Adding in a contentious estate administration process, and this experience can be particularly upsetting.Unfortunately,...
What are the grounds for contesting someone’s will?
When a person passes away, their will serves as a critical guide for property distribution and defining their legacy. It is a highly personal and powerful document, and the courts treat it as such. Therefore, setting it aside is not something they do lightly.However,...
8 events that should prompt you to update your estate plan
Creating a will may not be the most enjoyable task, but it is an incredibly important one. Having a will as part of your estate plan alleviates some of the challenges with distributing assets and preserves your wishes.However, things change over time, from your...
Tips for protecting parents with declining mental capacity
As parents get older, many can struggle with mental decline. It might start with gradual memory lapses or come on suddenly, but in either case, a parent in this position can become vulnerable to mistreatment, threats to their safety and neglect.Thankfully, there are...
Think you don’t need a will? Think again
A will is a vital document for every adult to have in place. However, too many people assume they do not need one. Some do not recognize just how valuable a will can be; others think they have nothing to protect.In reality, every person has something worth protecting...
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - a day when communities all over the globe acknowledge abuse against older adults. It is an unfortunate reality that elder abuse occurs all too often, all over the world. Elder abuse is a vastly more pervasive issue than...
New Normal: Part 3D – Estate Litigation Filing Affidavits of Service or Delivery
Estate Litigation & COVID-19: COVID-19 Notice No. 24 was issued by Chief Justice Hinkson on May 26, 2020, which declared that parties not appearing Court in-person as a result of safety measures taken in light of COVID-19 must file their affidavits of service or...
New Normal: Part 3 Estate Litigation – Procedural Modifications to Chambers Applications
As we referenced in our blog post earlier this week, Chief Justice Hinkson made directions with regard to how the Supreme Court of British Columbia will be resuming some regular operations. COVID-19 Notice No. 28 was issued on June 5, 2020, and it clarifies how...
New Normal: Part 3 Estate Litigation – Essential and Urgent Civil Matters
On June 3, the Honourable Chief Justice Christopher E. Hinkson made directions regarding the resumption of further court operations, subsequent to the suspension of regular operations on March 19, 2020. In COVID-19 Notice No. 25, Chief Justice Hinkson outlines...