Legal services
Wills and Estates Lawyer in Burnaby
Estate law has two different sides. One involves planning while someone is alive. The other begins after a death.
Planning documents record who may make decisions and how property should be dealt with. Estate administration asks the executor to identify assets, address liabilities and distribute what remains under the will and the law.
A will should reflect the life that exists now
Marriage, separation, children, a home purchase, a business and a move can all make an older will worth reviewing. The document may remain legally significant while no longer expressing a sensible plan.
A will can name an executor, provide distribution instructions and address other estate matters. Powers of attorney and health-care planning documents serve different purposes during life and should not be treated as interchangeable.
An executor begins with information, not distribution
Locate the original will, confirm authority, secure property and create an inventory. Banks, insurers, land-title records, tax information and account statements may be needed. Debts and tax obligations require attention before beneficiaries receive the estate.
Probate is a court process that confirms the executor’s authority under a will in appropriate cases. Whether it is required depends on the assets, ownership and requirements of the institutions holding them.
Disputes can change the administration
Questions about validity, interpretation, executor conduct or distribution may arise. Preserve the original documents and relevant correspondence. An executor should be cautious about distributing contested property before the issue is understood.
For a first discussion, bring the original will if available, the death certificate, a rough asset and debt list, contact information for beneficiaries and any urgent notice or deadline.
Questions people often ask
What should I gather before discussing wills or an estate?
Begin with the documents closest to the event and put them in date order. Include agreements, notices, correspondence, payment records and any deadline already provided. A shorter, organized record is usually more useful than an unexplained folder of files.
Does reading this page create a lawyer-client relationship?
No. This website provides general legal information. Advice depends on the facts, the applicable law and the documents in an individual matter.