Probate Law in Vancouver

Probate Lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia

Personal representatives manage the affairs of deceased individuals according to the instructions left in their will. This can become complex as the correct legal processes must be navigated. Part of this process is probate, where the court provides official validation of a will and allows the administration process to proceed formally.

If you are a nominated personal representative charged with administering a will, the probate experts at Vest Estate Lawyers in Vancouver can help you manage the process efficiently and without delays.

How can a probate lawyer in Vancouver help your family?

A probate lawyer or estate lawyer helps settle a deceased person’s estate. A personal representative’s responsibilities at the time of a person’s death are numerous. They include identifying and disposing of any land, money, and possessions, settling any outstanding debts or taxes, paying inheritances, and providing for the care of the deceased’s dependents, if applicable.

This considerable responsibility can also leave you liable for any unpaid debts from the deceased person’s estate. Sometimes, it makes sense for a personal representative to seek the assistance of a probate lawyer to facilitate and oversee the process, starting with the application for the grant of probate from the British Columbia courts.

Making the probate application in British Columbia

Before any bequeathed property in a will can be transferred to beneficiaries in British Columbia, the will must pass probate. This means that you, as the personal representative, must apply to the court to validate the will for authenticity and legal accuracy.

This provides a type of legal “seal of approval” that the personal representative named in the will is qualified to distribute the deceased’s assets and that the process will be transparent and fair according to their last wishes.

To apply for probate, all the necessary information regarding the deceased person’s estate must be gathered together. If the estate is large, this can be quite a task in itself. Then, it must be submitted with the correct documentation to the court in the judicial district where the deceased person lived.

What happens after probate has been granted?

After probate is granted, the responsibilities of the personal representative begin in earnest.

Executing the will

Once you have the grant of probate, you can legally start distributing the assets to beneficiaries according to the instructions in the will. This can be complex if the estate is sizeable, considerable debts are outstanding or many beneficiaries or creditors exist. The process can be further complicated with many individuals now holding digital assets.

The role of a personal representative generally involves locating and contacting beneficiaries, transferring property, notifying insurance companies and the holders of assets, distributing assets, completing tax returns, and paying debts.

It can take weeks or even months to fully execute an estate, depending on its complexity, the type of assets involved, how cooperative the beneficiaries are, and other factors. The process should not be rushed. It is important to get everything right so that the estate is administered accurately according to the deceased person’s wishes and within the law.

Probating a will in Vancouver

If you want to inquire about probate, apply for probate or begin executing a will, the probate experts at Vest Estate Lawyers in Vancouver can help you navigate the responsibilities, starting with a one-on-one consultation.