For various reasons, charities have become more prominent and numerous over the past decade or so. In many instances, organizations receive less (or no) government funding and so are forced to fundraise. If necessary, the organizations become “charities,” as defined by CRA, so that donors can get tax credits when donating to their chosen charities. Many more people […]
Under B.C.’s new Wills, Estates and Succession Act, marriage does not revoke a Will. But a gift in a Will to someone who is (or becomes) a spouse is revoked if the people cease to be spouses. In a marriage-like (or common law) relationship, if one person ends the relationship, it ends, simple as that. It takes […]
Last week, reasons for judgement were released in the case Browne v. Brown Estate. In this case, the deceased died in 2010. Under the Will, the named Executrix (known under the new legislation as the Personal Representative) is a daughter, and the alternate named Executor is the deceased’s son. The son applied to have the daughter removed as Executrix and […]
The new Wills, Estates and Succession Act is now law in B.C. An extensive piece of legislation, it is changing a lot of very old law and prompting the repeal of several Acts. The Wills Variation Act is among the legislation being repealed, and the new legislation incorporates its provisions (in Part 4, Division 6). The concepts are, for […]
As we close in on the proclamation date (March 31) for the new Wills Estates and Succession Act (PDF), more opinions on the nature of the legislation are being voiced. One of the more interesting comments is that the purpose of the Act is to give effect to what Will makers intend to do with their assets when […]
On March 31, the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA) will come into effect. Designed to modernize the very old law in this area, the Act will change most aspects of the legal environment around Estate planning, Will making, and handling of Estates. The Act will not invalidate existing Wills, but the new law will apply to them. It’s […]