Understand your will before you sign it
Free, plain-language guides on wills, probate, and estate planning for BC residents. Know your options before you meet with a lawyer.
Free BC estate tools
Instant answers, based on BC law
BC Probate Fees Calculator (2026)
Enter the estate value and any mortgage on BC property. See the fee, the filing fee, and the effective rate.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Enter your estate and family. See exactly how BC law would split it between spouse, children and relatives.
BC Executor Fee Calculator
How much can an executor charge in BC? The 5% legal maximum, a realistic range, and the tax on it.
BC Executor Checklist
Every step from the first week to the final distribution, in order. Tick items off on screen or print it.
Get ready to make your will
A free worksheet to organise your people, documents and questions. Read it online or download a printable copy.
Guides
Plain-language answers for British Columbia
Do I Need a Will in British Columbia?
What happens to your assets, your children, and your wishes if you die without a will — and why even a simple estate needs one.
IntestacyWhat Happens If You Die Without a Will in BC?
BC's intestacy rules decide who gets what. The results often surprise people — especially common-law couples and blended families.
CostsWill Costs in BC: Compare Your Options
Compare what lawyer, notary and online quotes include. Check taxes, signing appointments, revisions and extra documents.
LawWhat Is WESA? BC's Estate Law in Plain English
The one law that governs wills, inheritance, and estates in BC — broken down section by section.
PlanningEstate Planning Checklist for BC Residents
Documents, beneficiaries, property titles, digital assets — everything you need to organize, in one checklist.
PlanningPower of Attorney vs Will in BC
One protects you after death. The other while you're alive. Most people only think about the will — the POA may matter more.
ProbateThe BC Probate Process Explained Step by Step
What probate is, when it's required, how long it takes, and what it costs. A complete guide for executors and families.
ProbateHow to Avoid Probate in BC (2026 Guide)
Joint tenancy, beneficiary designations, trusts — the legal strategies and the trade-offs each one carries.
ExecutorsExecutor Duties in BC — What You Need to Know
You've been named executor. Your legal responsibilities, timeline, and the mistakes that create personal liability.
RelationshipsCommon-Law Partners and Wills in BC
After 2 years you're a "spouse" under WESA — but proving it without a will means court. Why unmarried couples need this most.
DisputesCan Someone Contest Your Will in BC?
Spouses and children can ask a court to rewrite your will. How wills variation works, who can claim, and how to protect your wishes.
FinancialRRSP & TFSA Beneficiary Designations in BC
Beneficiary designations override your will. How to get them right — and the tax trap most people miss.
FinancialWhat Happens to Debt When Someone Dies in BC?
Mortgages, credit cards, loans — who pays what, and when your family is protected.
PropertyWhat Happens to Your House When You Die in BC?
Joint tenancy, tenants in common, sole ownership — how your BC home transfers depends on how the title is held.
DigitalDigital Assets and Your Estate in BC
Crypto, online accounts, social media — what happens to your digital life, and how to plan for it.
DIYCan You Write Your Own Will in BC?
Yes, but the rules are specific and mistakes are found after death. What makes a DIY will valid and where the risks are.
UpdatesHow to Update or Change Your Will in BC
Codicils vs new wills, what marriage and divorce do to your will, and the life events that trigger a review.
PlanningHow to Choose an Executor for Your Will
The qualities that matter, common mistakes, and whether to choose family or a professional.
ChildrenNaming a Guardian for Your Children in BC
If both parents die, who raises your kids? Without a will, a judge decides. With a will, you do.
FamilyEstate Planning for Blended Families in BC
Stepchildren don't inherit under intestacy. Competing claims from spouses and children. Why blended families need a will most.
PlanningQuestions to Ask an Estate Lawyer
What to bring, what to ask, and how to make the most of your first consultation with a BC estate lawyer.
Health CareRepresentation Agreements in BC
Who makes medical decisions if you can't? Section 7 vs Section 9, and why this may be your most important document.
NewcomersEstate Planning for Newcomers to BC
Is your foreign will valid? Do you need two wills? What BC law means for immigrants and their families.
BusinessEstate Planning for Business Owners in BC
Buy-sell agreements, key person insurance, and succession planning — what happens to your business when you can't run it.
PlanningTrusts vs Wills in BC
When a trust adds value and when it's expensive complexity. Testamentary trusts, living trusts, and the Henson trust for special needs.
TaxTax Implications of Inheritance in BC
No inheritance tax in Canada — but death triggers a deemed disposition. Where the tax hits and how to reduce it.
FinancialJoint Bank Accounts and Probate in BC
Joint accounts bypass probate — usually. The resulting trust trap and when "convenience" accounts backfire.
FamilyWills for Single Parents in BC
Guardian appointments, life insurance, and trusts for children — the complete estate planning guide for single parents.
PracticalHow to Store Your Will Safely in BC
Lawyer's office, home safe, or safety deposit box? Plus the BC Wills Registry and the one place to never keep it.
PlanningEstate Planning for Renters in BC
You don't own a home — do you still need a will? Yes. Employer insurance, RRSPs, children, and what happens to your lease.