The pandemic has everyone thinking about their future and wondering if it’s possible to make legal changes to an estate plan with social distancing measures in place. The simple answer is yes.
Our team is equipped to work with you remotely and can be reached by phone, video conference and email.
If you already have a will in place and want to make changes, you should ensure that you have a copy of it to provide to your lawyer. If it is your first time meeting with a lawyer, be prepared to provide some necessary information so they can properly advise you on your estate plan.
Most firms have a set form of questions used to begin the process and gather the necessary information required to draft a will.
There are set execution requirements in order for a will to be legally binding. In British Columbia, a will must be witnessed by two adults at least 19 years of age.
If you are social distancing at home with your family, it might be difficult to find two witnesses. Ideally, the witnesses should not be mentioned in the will at all because any gift granted under the will to a witness would be presumed void and fail.
Therefore, spouses or immediate family members would not be appropriate witnesses. If you cannot arrange to sign the will before independent witnesses, then your lawyer will discuss further options with you.
Upon application to the BC Supreme Court, and under the Wills Estates and Succession Act of British Columbia (the “Act”), a Will that does not meet the legal requirements of execution could be upheld as a valid testamentary document in certain circumstances.
A lawyer would work closely with you to ensure that all steps possible are taken to provide sufficient evidence to prove that the will represents your valid testamentary intentions, notwithstanding that it doesn’t meet the legal requirements for execution.
This evidence could be used later if it is necessary to apply to the court for an order that the will be fully effective, as though it had been executed in compliance with the Act.
Having a properly executed will saves your estate the time and expense of having to make a court application after your death to cure the deficiency in the execution of your will.
Many businesses have been forced to close, limit their hours, or reduce their capacity. Despite a vaccine, the economic impact will likely continue, particularly in the face of new strains of the virus.
On January 28, 2021, the Ontario Superior Court addressed “inadequacies in current legal responses to internet defamation and harassment” by creating a new tort of internet harassment and cyber bullying.
While the global pandemic has been incredibly disruptive, the Court is embracing these changes and the legal community is using the tools available to move matters through the court system despite challenges.
Interesting reasons for judgment were recently released in the case. In this wills and estates case, a brother and sister entered into a contentious dispute surrounding the estate of their mother.