The family law of British Columbia has gone through a major change as a result of the new Family Law Act, which replaced the Family Relations Act and became effective on March 18, 2013. Under the old Family Relations Act, unmarried spouses are excluded from the operation of the property division and pension division sections,… View this post »
All posts in the ‘Estate Planning’ category
Dispute over Burial Rights delays Sherman Hemsley from “movin on up”
Actor Sherman Hemsley from the hit 70’s television show, “The Jeffersons”, passed away on July 24, 2012. However, he was not buried until November 21, 2012 because of a dispute over his estate. Hemsley created his will a mere 6 weeks before he passed away from lung cancer. In his will, he left his entire… View this post »
The Effect of a Charging Clause on a Professional’s Fees
Testators often choose professionals such as lawyers or accountants to act as their executor because professionals possess useful skills. Many lawyers and accountants have experience dealing with the issues that arise in estate administration. Recognizing this, the testator sometimes includes a “charging clause” in the Will. This allows the professional to charge his or her professional fees… View this post »