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British Columbia articles, explained.

Plain-language articles about British Columbia law.

British Columbia articles, page 3Start a file →
Wills & Estates

How to Force an Executor to Pass Accounts in British Columbia

Refused financial records by an executor? Learn how to ask for an accounting, when accounts must be passed, and what the court can do in British Columbia.

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Wills & Estates

How to Get a Death Certificate in British Columbia

Learn how to order a death certificate in British Columbia, how it differs from the registration, what it costs, how long it takes and how many to get.

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Family

How to Get a Parenting Order in BC: Provincial or Supreme Court

Learn how to apply for a parenting order in British Columbia, which court to use, the forms involved, the required PAS course and what to expect.

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Family

How to Get a Protection Order in British Columbia: Step by Step

Learn who can apply for a family law protection order in British Columbia, what the court looks at, which forms are used and what happens after you file.

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Wills & Estates

How to Get an Executor Removed in British Columbia

Learn the grounds for removing an executor in British Columbia, how the court application works, and what happens to the estate afterwards.

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Family

How to Get an Interim Order in British Columbia Family Court

Learn how a temporary parenting, support or property order works in British Columbia family court, where to apply, and what a judge considers.

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Family

How to Get an Uncontested or Joint Divorce in British Columbia

Understand the difference between a joint and a sole uncontested divorce in British Columbia, the forms involved and the steps to a final divorce order.

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Family

How to Get Your Divorce Certificate in British Columbia

Find out when your divorce is final, how to request a Certificate of Divorce from the Supreme Court registry in British Columbia, and what it costs.

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Family

How to Make a Separation Agreement Enforceable in BC

Learn the signing, witnessing, disclosure and fairness points that help a separation agreement hold up in British Columbia, and when a court may set it aside.

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Wills & Estates

How to Prove Undue Influence on a Will in British Columbia

Learn who must prove undue influence on a will in British Columbia, how WESA s. 52 can shift the burden, and the deadlines and steps to consider.

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Family

How to Prove Your Date of Separation in British Columbia

Learn what evidence can show your date of separation in British Columbia and why that date matters for property, support and divorce.

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Wills & Estates

How to Reduce Probate Fees in British Columbia Legally

Learn how the British Columbia probate fee is calculated, which lawful steps can lower it, and the risks of each approach before you rely on it.

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Wills & Estates

How to Remove an Executor of an Estate in British Columbia

Learn the grounds under WESA for removing or passing over an executor, how an executor can step aside, and what happens next in British Columbia.

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Family

How to Represent Yourself in British Columbia Family Court

Steps for representing yourself in BC family court: choosing a court, filing, serving, PAS, disclosure and free help available in British Columbia.

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Business Sale

How to Search for Liens and Debts Against a British Columbia Business

Learn which British Columbia registries reveal liens, security interests and debts on a business or its assets, how to search, and how to read the results.

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Real Estate

How to Search Title to a Property in British Columbia

Learn how to search title to a property in British Columbia through the LTSA, what a title shows and leaves out, and how to read what you find.

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Family

How to Serve Divorce Papers on Your Spouse in British Columbia

Learn who can serve a Notice of Family Claim in British Columbia, how personal service works, when service is deemed complete and how to prove it to the court.

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Family

How to Serve Family Court Documents in British Columbia

Learn how service works for BC family court documents: personal service, who can do it, proving it, and what happens if the other person does not reply.

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Real Estate

How to Sever a Joint Tenancy in British Columbia

Learn how one co-owner can end the right of survivorship in British Columbia, what severs a joint tenancy, what does not, and what happens to the share.

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Business Sale

How to Transfer a Liquor Licence When Buying a Restaurant in British Columbia

Steps to transfer a liquor licence when you buy a restaurant or bar in British Columbia: the portal, documents, application fee and timing at closing.

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Wills & Estates

How to Transfer Title to a House After Death in BC

A plain guide to moving a deceased owner's home into new names in British Columbia: probate, the Land Title Office, and property transfer tax exemptions.

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Family

How to Use the British Columbia Child Support Table Step by Step

Find the right income row, number of children and monthly amount in the British Columbia child support table, and learn when the figure is not final.

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Business Sale

How to Value a Small Business for Sale in British Columbia

Learn how a small business is valued in British Columbia: earnings, assets and goodwill, plus the searches and tax points a valuation should cover.

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Family

How to Vary a Separation Agreement in British Columbia

Find out whether and how a separation agreement can be changed or challenged in British Columbia, including child support, parenting and spousal support terms.

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Wills & Estates

How Trust Assets Are Taxed in British Columbia

A plain-language look at how trusts are taxed in British Columbia: the T3 return, the 21-year rule, alter ego trusts and graduated rate estates.

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Business Sale

Is a Letter of Intent Legally Binding in British Columbia?

Find out how to tell which parts of a business purchase letter of intent may bind you in British Columbia, and what deposits, land and time limits can mean.

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Family

Is a Mediated Agreement Legally Binding in BC?

Learn when a mediated family agreement binds you in British Columbia under the Family Law Act, and which steps make it enforceable like a court order.

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Wills & Estates

Is a Spouse Entitled to the Family Home in BC?

Understand a spouse's rights to the family home in British Columbia on death or separation, including the right to acquire the home under WESA.

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Real Estate

Is a Strata Depreciation Report Mandatory in British Columbia?

Find out what a strata depreciation report covers, when British Columbia law requires one, the 2026 and 2027 deadlines, and how to read the findings.

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Real Estate

Is a Verbal Agreement to Buy a House Binding in British Columbia?

Learn whether a handshake, phone call or text deal to buy a home can be enforced in British Columbia, and what the Law and Equity Act requires.

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Wills & Estates

Is an Executor Entitled to Be Paid in British Columbia?

Learn whether an executor can be paid in British Columbia, how the Trustee Act allowance works, and how compensation is approved by the court.

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Wills & Estates

Is an Inheritance Taxable in British Columbia? What You Owe

Learn whether a beneficiary pays tax on an inheritance in British Columbia, and how the final tax return, probate fees and clearance certificate differ.

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Family

Is an Unmarried Father a Guardian in BC? Rules for Common-Law Dads

Find out when an unmarried father is a guardian in British Columbia, what living with the child means, and how to apply to the court if you are not one.

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Family

Is Growth in a Pre-Marriage Home's Value Divided in British Columbia?

Find out how British Columbia family law treats a home you owned before the relationship, and whether its increase in value is shared on separation.

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Family

Is Property Split Equally in British Columbia After Separation?

Learn how British Columbia's equal-sharing rule works after separation, and when an agreement, excluded property or unfairness changes the split.

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Wills & Estates

Is Property Transfer Tax Payable When a House Passes on Death in BC?

Learn when British Columbia property transfer tax applies to an inherited house, and which exemptions cover estates, survivorship and family transfers.

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Family

Is There a Fee to Apply for a Protection Order in BC?

Find out whether court fees apply to a family law protection order in British Columbia, how fee waivers work and what other costs to think about.

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Wills & Estates

Is There an Estate Tax or Inheritance Tax in British Columbia?

Learn whether British Columbia or Canada has an inheritance tax, and which final taxes and probate fees an estate still has to deal with after a death.

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Family

Is There Free Legal Advice for Family Law in BC?

A plain list of free family law help in British Columbia: Family Justice Centres, Family Law Centres and Justice Access Centres, and what each can do.

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Family

Is There Free or Low-Cost Family Mediation in British Columbia?

Find out which free and court-connected family mediation services exist in British Columbia, who can use them, and how to start with a counsellor.

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Family

Is There Still Custody in BC? Guardianship and Parenting Time Explained

Find out whether custody and access still exist in British Columbia, what replaced them under the Family Law Act, and how older orders are read today.

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Family

Is Your Partner Entitled to Half Your House After Two Years in BC?

Learn how BC's two-year rule, pre-relationship property and increase in value affect whether a partner can claim half your house in British Columbia.

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Real Estate

Is Your Presale Deposit Protected If a BC Developer Fails?

Find out how British Columbia requires presale condo deposits to be held in trust, when they can be released, and how you may get yours back.

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Real Estate

Joint Tenancy vs Tenants in Common in British Columbia Explained

Learn how joint tenancy and tenants in common differ in British Columbia, including survivorship, unequal shares, severing and how to choose.

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Real Estate

Judgments, Liens and Charges on Title Before a Sale in British Columbia

See what a charge, lien or registered judgment on a BC title means for a sale, how long judgments last and how they are cleared in British Columbia.

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Real Estate

Land Owner Transparency Report in British Columbia: Who Must File

Find out who must file a land owner transparency report in British Columbia, what it discloses to the public, and the penalties for not filing.

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Real Estate

Landlord Notice to Move In or Sell in British Columbia: Two Months or Three?

Received a landlord's use or buyer's use notice in British Columbia? See the notice period, one month's rent compensation and how to dispute it.

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Real Estate

Leasehold Land on a First Nations Reserve in BC: Can You Get a Mortgage?

How leasehold and certificate of possession land works on First Nations reserves and Nisga'a Lands in British Columbia, and what lenders look at.

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Business Sale

Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption: Selling a Small Business in British Columbia

Understand the lifetime capital gains exemption for selling private company shares in British Columbia, what it shelters and the tests the shares must meet.

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Wills & Estates

Making a Power of Attorney After a Dementia Diagnosis in BC

Can you still sign an enduring power of attorney after a dementia diagnosis in British Columbia? Learn how capacity is tested and what happens if it is too late.

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Real Estate

Maximum Rent Increase in BC for 2026: What Landlords Can Charge

Learn the 2026 rent increase cap in British Columbia, how it is set, what you can do if your landlord asks for more, and when a higher increase is allowed.

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Family

Mediation After Family Violence in British Columbia: Your Options

Learn how family violence screening works before mediation in British Columbia, when mediation may not be needed, and what court options exist.

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Family

Mediation vs Arbitration in BC Family Law: Key Differences

Compare mediation and arbitration in British Columbia family law: who decides, how binding each is, and how an arbitration award is enforced or appealed.

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Real Estate

Minimum Down Payment to Buy a Home in British Columbia

See the minimum down payment rules by price range for British Columbia homes, and how owner-occupied and rental purchases differ for buyers.

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Real Estate

Mortgage Pre-Approval in BC: Does It Commit You?

Find out what a mortgage pre-approval is in British Columbia, how long a rate hold can last, and whether it binds you or the lender to close.

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Family

My Ex Is Not Following the Parenting Order in BC: Your Options

Learn how to document breaches of a parenting order in British Columbia and the enforcement options under the Family Law Act, including s. 61.

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Wills & Estates

Named Beneficiary Assets and Probate Fees in British Columbia

See how RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs and insurance with a named beneficiary are treated for British Columbia probate fees, and when they fall back into the estate.

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Real Estate

Neighbour's Tree Fell on Your Property? Who Pays in British Columbia

Learn when a neighbour is liable for a fallen tree in British Columbia, how negligence and shared fault work, and where small claims can be brought.

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Real Estate

Newly Built Home Exemption From Property Transfer Tax in BC

Learn the price limits, who can claim and how the occupancy rule works for the newly built home property transfer tax exemption in British Columbia.

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Wills & Estates

Notice of Dispute Against Probate in British Columbia Explained

How a notice of dispute works in British Columbia, who can file one, what it does to a probate application, how long it lasts and how it ends.

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Real Estate

Paid a Rent Increase Above the BC Limit? How to Get It Back

Learn when a rent increase is unlawful in British Columbia, and how tenants can raise it, deduct the excess from rent, or apply for dispute resolution.

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Wills & Estates

Parent Lost Capacity With No Power of Attorney: Options in BC

Your parent can no longer manage money and never signed a power of attorney. Learn the British Columbia routes: court committeeship and the Public Guardian.

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Family

Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time Under BC's Family Law Act

Understand the difference between parental responsibilities and parenting time in British Columbia, and how each is shared or divided after separation.

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Family

Parenting Plan or Parenting Agreement in BC: What to Include

Learn what a British Columbia parenting agreement should cover, when it is binding and how filing it in court makes it enforceable.

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Real Estate

Patent vs Latent Defects: What Sellers Disclose in British Columbia

Understand the difference between patent and latent defects in British Columbia, what a seller's licensee must disclose, and how to handle leaks or rot.

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Real Estate

Pet Damage Deposit Limit in BC: What Landlords Can Charge

Learn the pet damage deposit cap in British Columbia, whether a landlord can ban pets, and which pet-related fees landlords are not allowed to charge.

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Wills & Estates

Probate Fee on a $1 Million Estate in British Columbia

Step-by-step probate fee calculation for a $1,000,000 estate in British Columbia, including the court filing fee and what counts toward the value.

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Wills & Estates

Probate Fees on Gross or Net Estate Value in British Columbia

Learn whether British Columbia probate fees are based on gross or net estate value, which assets count, and what happens if you miss one.

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Wills & Estates

Probate vs Administration in BC: What Is the Difference?

Learn the difference between a grant of probate and a grant of administration in British Columbia, and who can apply in each situation.

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Real Estate

Property Disclosure Statement in British Columbia: Is It Mandatory?

Handed a property disclosure statement in British Columbia? Learn how your agent's disclosure duty works, what declining means, and how to answer safely.

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Family

Protection Order Against a Boyfriend or Girlfriend in British Columbia

Learn who counts as a family member for a protection order in British Columbia, and what a peace bond can do if you are a dating partner.

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Family

Protection Order in Provincial Court or Supreme Court in BC?

Understand which British Columbia court can grant a family law protection order, how the two courts differ, and how an existing family case affects your choice.

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Family

Protection Order vs Peace Bond in BC: Key Differences Explained

Compare a Family Law Act protection order with a criminal peace bond in British Columbia: who can be named, how long each lasts and how each is enforced.

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Family

Provincial Court or Supreme Court for a Family Matter in BC?

Learn what the Provincial Court and Supreme Court can each decide in a British Columbia family matter, and how to think about where to start your case.

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Wills & Estates

Public Guardian and Trustee Role in Committeeship in British Columbia

See when the Public Guardian and Trustee gets notice of a committee application, when it acts as committee, and how it reviews accounts in British Columbia.

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Real Estate

Realtor Client vs Customer in BC: What Duties Do You Actually Get?

Learn how BC rules separate a realtor's clients from unrepresented parties, which duties each gets, and what to ask before you rely on a realtor's help.

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Real Estate

Realtor Commission When Selling a Home in British Columbia

How realtor commission works when you sell a home in British Columbia: what the listing agreement must say, how the buyer's agent is paid, and what to ask.

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Real Estate

Restrictive Covenants on Title in BC: Can You Remove One?

Find out how a restrictive covenant on title binds owners in British Columbia, who can enforce it, and the ways it can be modified, discharged or challenged.

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Wills & Estates

Right of Survivorship in British Columbia Explained

Understand how the right of survivorship works in British Columbia, how joint tenants differ from tenants in common, and what can change the outcome.

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Real Estate

Section 219 Covenants Under the BC Land Title Act Explained

Learn what a section 219 covenant on title means in British Columbia, who can hold and enforce it, how it binds buyers and how it is modified or discharged.

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Wills & Estates

Section 7 vs Section 9 Representation Agreements in British Columbia

Compare section 7 and section 9 representation agreements in British Columbia: capacity tests, what each covers and how limited capacity affects the choice.

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Real Estate

Security Deposit Limit in BC: How Much a Landlord Can Ask

Find out the maximum security deposit in British Columbia, when a landlord can collect it, and what to do if you are asked to pay more than allowed.

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Real Estate

Selling a Tenanted Home in BC: Tenant Notice When the Buyer Moves In

Selling a rented home in British Columbia to a buyer who wants to move in? Learn how the RTB-32P notice works, who serves it, and what you owe the tenant.

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Family

Served With a Protection Order in BC? What to Do Next

Just served with a protection order in British Columbia? Learn what the terms mean, how to avoid breaching them, how to challenge it, and what about kids.

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Family

Shared Parenting Time and Child Support in BC: The 40 Percent Rule

Learn how the 40 percent parenting time threshold and set-off method can change child support in British Columbia, and what else a court considers.

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Wills & Estates

Should a British Columbia Executor Advertise for Creditors?

Learn what a notice to creditors does in British Columbia, how it protects an executor from personal liability, where it falls short and what to do next.

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Real Estate

Signing a Listing Agreement to Sell Your Home in BC: What It Must Include

Before you sign with a brokerage in British Columbia, see what a listing agreement must state, how changes work, and what to check before you sign.

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Family

Special or Extraordinary Expenses in BC Child Support: Section 7

Learn what section 7 special or extraordinary expenses cover in British Columbia child support, and how daycare, braces and school costs are shared.

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Wills & Estates

Speculation and Vacancy Tax on Inherited Property in BC

Find out how British Columbia's speculation and vacancy tax applies to an inherited home, which estate exemptions exist, and who must make the declaration.

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Real Estate

Steps to Buy a House in British Columbia From Offer to Keys

Follow the steps to buy a house in British Columbia: offer, deposit, subjects, legal work, property transfer tax, completion and getting the keys.

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Business Sale

Steps to Buying an Existing Business in British Columbia

Follow the path to buying an existing business in British Columbia, from first inquiry and letter of intent to due diligence, agreement and closing.

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Real Estate

Strata Documents to Review Before Buying a Condo in BC

A checklist of the strata documents to review before removing subjects on a British Columbia condo: minutes, bylaws, financials, Form B and more.

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Real Estate

Suing a Home Seller for Misrepresentation in British Columbia

Find out what misrepresentation by a home seller can mean in British Columbia, how buyers try to prove it, and what deadlines and remedies to ask about.

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Real Estate

Suing a Neighbour for Building on Your Land in British Columbia

How survey evidence, demand letters and Property Law Act court orders work when a neighbour's fence or building crosses your boundary in British Columbia.

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Wills & Estates

Suspicious Circumstances in a BC Will Challenge Explained

Understand what suspicious circumstances mean in a British Columbia will challenge, how they affect the burden of proof, and how a will's defender responds.

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Wills & Estates

Test for Mental Capacity to Make a Will in British Columbia

See how British Columbia courts decide whether a will-maker was mentally capable: the age rule, case law test, burden of proof and timing.

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Wills & Estates

The $200 Probate Filing Fee in British Columbia Explained

Learn what the $200 court filing fee on a British Columbia probate application is, when it applies, and how it differs from the probate fee on estate value.

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Real Estate

The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in BC: What You Can Do

Understand Agricultural Land Reserve restrictions in British Columbia: permitted farm and non-farm uses, housing limits, subdivision and when approval is needed.

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Real Estate

The Mortgage Stress Test for BC Buyers Explained

Learn how the mortgage stress test works for British Columbia buyers, how it affects what you can borrow, and what to ask your lender.

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Wills & Estates

The Patients Property Act in British Columbia Explained

A plain-language guide to British Columbia's Patients Property Act: who it covers, how committees are appointed, their duties and how it can end.

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Wills & Estates

The Tataryn Test for Wills Variation in British Columbia

Learn how the Tataryn decision shapes wills variation claims in British Columbia: legal and moral obligations, priorities among claims, and the deadlines.

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Family

Time Limit to Apply for Spousal Support in British Columbia

Separated years ago and wondering if it is too late? Learn the spousal support time limits in British Columbia under the Family Law Act and Divorce Act.

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Wills & Estates

Time Limit to Contest a Will in British Columbia: 180 Days and More

Learn the 180-day wills variation deadline in British Columbia, 30-day service, notice of dispute timing and what can happen if you miss a deadline.

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Family

Time Limits After Separation in BC: Which Family Law Claims Have a Deadline?

Learn which family law claims in British Columbia have a two-year deadline after separation, which have none, and why your separation date matters.

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Family

Travelling Outside Canada With a Child: Consent in British Columbia

Find out when the other guardian's consent matters for a trip outside Canada from British Columbia, what a consent letter covers and what to do if refused.

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Wills & Estates

Trust for a Disabled Beneficiary in BC: Keeping Benefits Safe

How discretionary trusts and RDSPs are treated for British Columbia disability assistance, and what to weigh before leaving money to a family member.

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Wills & Estates

Trustee Duties Under BC Law: What a Trustee Must Do

Named as a trustee in British Columbia? Learn how the Trustee Act treats investing, delegating, passing accounts, compensation and relief from liability.

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Real Estate

Water Sustainability Act in BC: How It Affects Your Property

Understand when a water licence is needed in British Columbia, how domestic well use is treated, existing-use rights and whether licence rights pass on a sale.

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Wills & Estates

What an Attorney Can and Cannot Do in British Columbia

See what an attorney can and cannot do under a power of attorney in British Columbia, from financial decisions and gifts to wills and health care.

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Real Estate

What an Easement Means for Your BC Property

Learn what an easement on title means for owners and buyers in British Columbia, who benefits, how easements and rights of way are created, changed or ended.

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Real Estate

What Buyer Beware Means for Home Sellers in British Columbia

Learn how far buyer beware protects home sellers in British Columbia, where it stops, and what your agent must disclose about hidden defects.

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Wills & Estates

What Can a BC Court Order When It Varies a Will?

Learn what a British Columbia court can order if a wills variation claim succeeds: lump sums, payments, property, trusts, who pays, and key deadlines.

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Family

What Can a Marriage Agreement Include in British Columbia?

See which topics a British Columbia marriage agreement can cover, such as property, debt, business interests and spousal support, and which terms won't bind.

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Family

What Can a Prenup or Marriage Agreement Cover in British Columbia?

Learn what a prenup, marriage or cohabitation agreement can and cannot settle in British Columbia: property, debt, spousal support, children and form rules.

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Family

What Can and Can't Go in a Prenup or Marriage Agreement in BC?

See what a British Columbia prenup or marriage agreement can cover, such as property and spousal support, and what it can't, like child support and parenting.

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Family

What Counts as Family Violence Under the BC Family Law Act?

A plain-language guide to how the British Columbia Family Law Act defines family violence, including emotional and financial abuse and children's exposure.

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Family

What Does Guardian Mean in BC? Guardianship Under the Family Law Act

Learn who counts as a guardian in British Columbia, what guardians can decide, and how guardianship differs from parenting time and contact.

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Family

What Does Significantly Unfair Mean in British Columbia Family Law?

Learn how the significantly unfair test in section 93 of the Family Law Act works in British Columbia, the factors a court weighs and when it may not apply.

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Real Estate

What Does the 2-5-10 New Home Warranty Cover in British Columbia?

Learn what BC's 2-5-10 new home warranty covers for materials, the building envelope and structure, what is excluded, and how to claim in British Columbia.

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Family

What Happens at a Family Law Trial in British Columbia?

Learn how a BC family law trial works: how it gets scheduled, which court hears what, how a judge decides, and the appeal deadlines in British Columbia.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens If a Beneficiary Dies Before the Will-Maker in BC?

Learn how British Columbia law treats a gift to a beneficiary who died first: alternate beneficiaries, gifts to siblings or descendants, and the residue.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens If a Beneficiary Is a Minor in BC?

See who holds an inheritance left to a child in British Columbia, the Public Guardian and Trustee's role, and what a trust can do until age 19.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens If a British Columbia Estate Cannot Pay All Debts?

If debts exceed assets in a British Columbia estate, learn who gets paid first, what beneficiaries may receive, and what an executor can do next.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens If a British Columbia Estate Owes More Than It Has?

Learn what executors can do when an estate owes more than it holds in British Columbia: liability limits, cut gifts, bankruptcy and CRA clearance.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens If an Executor Dies or Cannot Act in British Columbia?

See who steps in under British Columbia law when an executor dies, renounces, loses capacity or cannot continue, and how removal and substitution work.

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Family

What Happens If Someone Breaks a Protection Order in BC?

Learn what to do if someone breaks a protection order in British Columbia, how police can act, and the criminal consequences of a breach.

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Real Estate

What Happens If the Buyer Cannot Complete a Purchase in British Columbia

If your buyer fails to close in British Columbia, learn how deposits, damages claims, relisting and the 2-year deadline generally work for sellers.

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Real Estate

What Happens If You Default on Your Mortgage in British Columbia?

Missed mortgage payments in British Columbia? Learn what default means, what lenders can do, what relief options exist and how to act before court.

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Real Estate

What Happens If You Miss the Subject Removal Deadline in BC?

Find out what can happen in British Columbia if a buyer misses the subject removal date, whether the seller can walk away, and how an extension works.

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Family

What Happens If Your Spouse Ignores a BC Divorce Claim?

If your spouse was served but filed no response, learn the 30-day deadline and how an undefended divorce can proceed in British Columbia without them.

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Business Sale

What Happens on Closing Day of a Business Sale in British Columbia

See what happens on closing day of a business sale in British Columbia: signing, funds release, key handover, tax clearances and what your lawyer does.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens to a Deceased Person's Pets in British Columbia?

Find out who legally looks after a dead person's dog or cat in British Columbia, how pets pass through an estate and what to do if no one can keep them.

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Real Estate

What Happens to a Jointly Owned House When an Owner Dies in British Columbia?

See when a jointly owned home passes by survivorship in British Columbia, when it goes through the estate, and what to file at the Land Title Office.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens to a Mortgage or Car Loan After Death in BC?

How a mortgage or car loan is treated after a death in British Columbia, who bears the debt, and what a beneficiary who inherits the asset can expect.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens to an Estate if No Relatives Are Found in British Columbia?

Learn how the order of heirs works, what happens when no relatives are found, and how an unclaimed estate can pass to the government in British Columbia.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens to CPP and OAS Payments When Someone Dies in BC?

Learn whom to notify after a death in British Columbia, whether the last CPP or OAS payment must be returned, and how the death benefit and survivor's pension work.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens to Digital Assets and Online Accounts After Death in BC

Learn how executors in British Columbia deal with email, social media, cloud photos and crypto, and how platform terms and general estate authority apply.

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Business Sale

What Happens to Employees When a Business Is Sold in BC?

Learn whether jobs continue after an asset sale or share sale in British Columbia, and what happens to length of service, wages and vacation pay.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens to Joint Tenancy Property When an Owner Dies in BC

Learn how joint tenancy works when a co-owner dies in British Columbia, what the survivor must file at the Land Title Office, and when the estate may claim.

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Family

What Happens to the Family Home When a Couple Separates in British Columbia?

Understand who keeps the family home after separation in British Columbia: ownership, who can stay, buyouts, sale and how to protect your interest.

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Wills & Estates

What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will in British Columbia

Learn who is in charge, what the court does and how the estate is divided under WESA when someone dies without a will in British Columbia.

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Family

What if My Spouse Is Hiding Assets in British Columbia?

Suspect your spouse is hiding money or property? Learn how financial disclosure works in British Columbia and what remedies the court can order.

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Real Estate

What Is a Builders Lien Holdback on a New Home in British Columbia?

Understand the Builders Lien Act holdback on a newly built home in British Columbia: what it is, who holds it, and how it protects against contractor liens.

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Family

What Is a Cohabitation Agreement and Is It Enforceable in BC?

Find out what a cohabitation agreement does for unmarried couples in British Columbia, how the Family Law Act treats it, and when a court may set it aside.

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Family

What Is a Contempt Application in BC Family Court?

Find out what contempt means in British Columbia family court, when it is used, the penalties available and the Family Law Act options to consider first.

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Real Estate

What Is a Contingency Reserve Fund in a British Columbia Strata?

Learn how the contingency reserve fund works in a British Columbia strata, the 10% minimum, what it can pay for, and what a low balance can mean.

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Family

What Is a Desk Order Divorce in British Columbia?

A plain-language look at desk order divorces in British Columbia: who qualifies, which forms are filed, and when the divorce takes effect afterward.

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Real Estate

What Is a Disclosure Statement for a New Development in British Columbia?

Learn what a disclosure statement must contain for a new development in British Columbia, what to check before you sign, and what an amendment means for you.

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Family

What Is a Family Case Conference in British Columbia Provincial Court?

Heading to Provincial Court on a family matter in British Columbia? Learn what the first court date is called, how to get ready, and what must be done first.

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Family

What Is a Family Dispute Resolution Professional in BC?

Learn who counts as a family dispute resolution professional in British Columbia, what duties they have, including violence screening, and how to check one.

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Family

What Is a Family Justice Counsellor in BC and What Do They Do?

Learn what a family justice counsellor does in British Columbia, whether the service is free, and how needs assessments fit into Early Resolution.

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Family

What Is a Family Law Financial Statement in British Columbia?

Learn what a family law financial statement is in British Columbia, which form applies, what to attach, and what can happen if you leave something out.

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Real Estate

What Is a Form B Information Certificate in a BC Strata Sale?

Learn what a Form B Information Certificate discloses in a British Columbia strata sale, who must provide it, how fast, and which red flags to check.

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Real Estate

What Is a Form F Certificate of Payment in BC Strata?

Learn what a Form F Certificate of Payment confirms about money owing to a British Columbia strata, who issues it, and why it matters at closing.

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Wills & Estates

What Is a Grant of Probate in British Columbia?

A plain-language guide for executors in British Columbia: what a grant of probate is, what it proves, who relies on it and how it differs from administration.

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Family

What Is a Judicial Case Conference in British Columbia?

Learn what a judicial case conference is in British Columbia Supreme Court family cases, how it differs from a trial, and how to prepare for it.

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Family

What Is a Limited Scope Retainer for Family Law in British Columbia?

Understand how limited scope (unbundled) legal help works for separation in British Columbia, which tasks you can hand off, and the risks to watch for.

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Family

What Is a Material Change in Circumstances in BC Family Law?

Find out what counts as a change in circumstances in British Columbia family law, with examples for parenting, child support and spousal support orders.

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Family

What Is a Notice of Family Claim in BC and How to File It

Understand the British Columbia Supreme Court notice of family claim: Form F3, service, the 30-day response, financial disclosure, fees and next steps.

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Wills & Estates

What Is a Notice of Proposed Application in BC Probate?

Learn who must receive the Form P1 notice in British Columbia, the 21-day wait before filing, how it is delivered, and how recipients can object.

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Real Estate

What Is a Presale Condo Contract in British Columbia?

Learn what a presale condo contract is in British Columbia, what the disclosure statement does, your 7-day rescission right, and how it differs from a resale.

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Wills & Estates

What Is a Representation Agreement in British Columbia?

Learn what a representation agreement does in British Columbia, which decisions it covers and when it takes effect under the Representation Agreement Act.

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Family

What Is a Separation Agreement in British Columbia, and Is It Filed?

Learn what a separation agreement covers in British Columbia, whether it must be filed with a court, and how filing affects enforcement.

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Real Estate

What Is a State of Title Certificate in British Columbia?

Find out what a State of Title Certificate is in British Columbia, how it differs from a title search, how to order one and what it does and does not prove.

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Real Estate

What Is a Statutory Right of Way on British Columbia Land?

Learn what a statutory right of way on a British Columbia property is, who can hold one, what it allows and how an owner can ask to change or cancel it.

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Wills & Estates

What Is a Will Search in British Columbia and How Do You Request One?

How a will search through the BC Vital Statistics Agency works: who can apply, the cost, and what the result shows and does not show in British Columbia.

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Wills & Estates

What Is Adequate, Just and Equitable Provision in British Columbia?

Learn how British Columbia courts apply the adequate, just and equitable standard in WESA section 60 when a will leaves out a spouse or child.

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Wills & Estates

What Is an Enduring Power of Attorney in British Columbia?

Learn what an enduring power of attorney is under British Columbia's Power of Attorney Act, what makes it enduring, who can make one and what it covers.

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Wills & Estates

What Is an Insolvent Estate in British Columbia?

Learn what an insolvent estate means in British Columbia, how an executor confirms it, and what happens to debts, gifts and bankruptcy steps next.

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Family

What Is Collaborative Family Law in BC and How Does It Work?

Understand collaborative family law in British Columbia: how the process works, the participation agreement, who is involved and what if it breaks down.

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Wills & Estates

What Is Committeeship in British Columbia and When Is It Needed?

Understand what a committee is in British Columbia, when committeeship is needed and how the court process under the Patients Property Act works.

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Wills & Estates

What Is Deemed Disposition at Death in Canada? A BC Guide

Understand how a deceased person is treated as selling all capital property at death, and what that means for the final return of a British Columbia estate.

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Family

What Is Excluded Property in British Columbia and Is It Divided?

Learn what counts as excluded property in British Columbia family law, how to prove it, and when it can still be shared after separation.

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Family

What Is Family Property Under the BC Family Law Act?

Understand what counts as family property under British Columbia's Family Law Act, with examples, what is excluded, and why title does not decide it.

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Family

What Is Parenting Coordination in BC and When Is It Used?

Learn what a parenting coordinator does in British Columbia, how one is appointed, what they can decide and when a court can step in.

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Wills & Estates

What Is Testamentary Capacity in British Columbia?

Learn what testamentary capacity means under BC law, how it differs from signing rules, and how doubts are raised in British Columbia.

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Wills & Estates

What Is the Executor's Year in British Columbia?

What the executor's year means in British Columbia, how the 210-day rule in WESA actually works, and when an estate can be distributed sooner.

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Wills & Estates

What Legal Powers Does an Executor Have Over Estate Property in BC?

Learn where an executor's authority comes from in British Columbia, how far it reaches over estate property, land and co-executors, and where it stops.

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Business Sale

What Multiple of Earnings Do Small Businesses Sell For in BC?

See how SDE and EBITDA multiples work for small business sales in British Columbia, what moves them, and how a multiple turns into an asking price.

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Wills & Estates

What Should an Executor Do First After a Death in British Columbia?

A plain-language guide to an executor's early duties in British Columbia: searching for assets and debts, the wills notice, Form P1, banks and creditors.

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Business Sale

What Should Be in a Business Purchase Agreement in BC?

A plain-language checklist of the key clauses in a business purchase agreement in British Columbia, from price allocation and PST to employees and liens.

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Wills & Estates

What Taxes Does an Estate Pay After a Death in British Columbia?

An overview for executors of the final return, T3 returns, clearance certificates, probate fees and other taxes after a death in British Columbia.

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Real Estate

What the Land Title and Survey Authority Does in British Columbia

Learn what the LTSA runs in British Columbia, what it registers, how to search a title and what it will not do for property owners.

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Real Estate

What the Real Estate Services Act Means for BC Buyers and Sellers

A plain-language look at what British Columbia's Real Estate Services Act requires of realtors, and the protections it gives home buyers and sellers.

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Wills & Estates

What to Do First When Someone Dies in British Columbia

An ordered checklist for the first days after a death in British Columbia: who to call, the funeral home, finding the will, and who to notify.

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Wills & Estates

What to Do If an Executor Is Hiding Estate Assets in BC

Suspect an executor is hiding assets in British Columbia? Learn how to gather evidence, what the court can do, and the time limits that may apply to you.

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Wills & Estates

What to Do If an Executor Is Not Distributing an Estate in British Columbia

Waiting on your share of an estate? Learn when an executor can lawfully delay, and the steps from a written request to court in British Columbia.

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Family

What to Do When Your Ex Stops Paying Child Support in BC

Learn your options in British Columbia when child support stops: BC Family Maintenance Agency enrolment, enforcement tools, arrears and first steps.

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Family

When Can a BC Court Divide Property Unequally as Significantly Unfair?

Learn how British Columbia courts decide whether an equal split of family property is significantly unfair under section 95 and which factors they weigh.

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Wills & Estates

When Can an Executor Distribute the Estate in BC? The 210-Day Rule

Learn when a British Columbia executor or administrator can legally distribute an estate: the 210-day rule, its exceptions, and the CRA clearance certificate.

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Family

When Does a Common-Law Partner Count as a Spouse in BC?

Learn when an unmarried partner counts as a spouse under British Columbia's Family Law Act, why the two-year rule matters, and the child exception.

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Wills & Estates

When Does an Enduring Power of Attorney Start in British Columbia?

Find out when an enduring power of attorney takes effect in British Columbia, how springing powers work, and how incapacity is confirmed and proved.

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Family

When Does Child Support End in British Columbia? Age and Conditions

Learn whether child support in British Columbia stops automatically at a certain age, when it can continue, and how an order or agreement is changed or ended.

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Wills & Estates

When Is Probate Not Required in British Columbia? Common Cases

Learn which assets can pass without a grant of probate in British Columbia, such as joint land and beneficiary designations, and when a grant is needed.

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Real Estate

When Is the Deposit Due When Buying a Home in BC?

Learn when a buyer's deposit is usually paid in British Columbia, where it is held, and what changes if the offer delays the deposit until subjects are removed.

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Wills & Estates

Which Court Handles Probate in British Columbia?

Probate in British Columbia is filed in the Supreme Court. Learn which registry to use, how to choose one, and what happens if you need to move it.

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Wills & Estates

Who Can Apply to Be Administrator of an Estate in British Columbia?

See who has priority to act as administrator when there is no will in British Columbia, how the court decides, and what the application involves.

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Wills & Estates

Who Can Be a Representative Under a Representation Agreement in BC?

Learn who can act as a representative under a British Columbia representation agreement, when a monitor is needed, who can witness, and how to raise concerns.

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Wills & Estates

Who Can Challenge a Will in British Columbia?

Find out who has standing to challenge a will in British Columbia, including spouses, children, beneficiaries and others, and where the exceptions apply.

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Wills & Estates

Who Gets the Family Home When Someone Dies in BC?

Learn who inherits the family home in British Columbia under a will, on intestacy or through joint ownership, and what WESA says about spouses and children.

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Wills & Estates

Who Has the Burden of Proof in a BC Will Capacity Dispute?

Learn who must prove capacity or incapacity in a British Columbia will dispute, when the burden shifts, and how undue influence is treated differently.

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Wills & Estates

Who Has the Right to Decide Funeral Arrangements in BC?

Learn who has the legal right to decide burial or cremation in British Columbia, how ties and family disputes are resolved, and when written wishes bind.

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Wills & Estates

Who Has to Prove Undue Influence in a BC Will Challenge?

Learn who carries the burden of proof when undue influence is alleged against a will in British Columbia, and how WESA s. 52 can shift it.

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Wills & Estates

Who Inherits When a Spouse Dies Without a Will in BC

Find out how a British Columbia estate is split between a surviving spouse and children or other relatives when a spouse dies without a will.

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Wills & Estates

Who Is the Temporary Substitute Decision Maker in British Columbia?

Learn how a health care provider chooses a temporary substitute decision maker in British Columbia, the order of priority, and who does not qualify.

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Family

Who Keeps the House in a Divorce in British Columbia?

Learn how British Columbia law treats the family home on separation: why title does not decide it, and how buyouts, sales and exclusive occupation work.

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Wills & Estates

Who Makes Health Care Decisions Without a Representation Agreement in BC?

Learn how British Columbia health care consent works when a loved one has no representation agreement, including who the temporary substitute decision maker is.

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Real Estate

Who Owns a Boundary Fence Between Neighbours in British Columbia?

Find out who must build and pay for a boundary fence in British Columbia, how the Trespass Act and bylaws apply, and what to do if a neighbour refuses.

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Real Estate

Who Owns the Home After Separation if Only One Spouse Is on (British Columbia)

Not named on the title to the family home? Learn how British Columbia's Family Law Act treats your claim after separation, and what the titled spouse can do.

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Wills & Estates

Who Pays for the Funeral If the Estate Is Short of Money in BC?

If the estate cannot cover the funeral, learn how funeral costs are ranked, whether you are personally liable, and BC's Burial or Cremation Supplement.

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Wills & Estates

Who Pays Legal Costs in a British Columbia Estate Dispute?

Learn how courts in British Columbia decide who pays legal costs in an estate dispute: the general rule, the exceptions, and what to ask a lawyer.

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Wills & Estates

Who Pays Probate Fees in British Columbia, and When?

Learn who pays the probate fee in British Columbia, when it is due, how it is worked out and what happens if you missed an estate asset.

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Family

Who Qualifies for Legal Aid BC Family Law Services?

See how eligibility works for Legal Aid BC family law help in British Columbia, including case-type tests, income questions and the documents to prepare.

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Real Estate

Who Qualifies for the BC First Time Home Buyers' Exemption?

Check each requirement for the British Columbia first time home buyers' exemption: residency, citizenship, prior ownership, price caps and moving-in rules.

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Real Estate

Who Regulates BC Realtors? BCFSA and the Real Estate Council

Find out who licenses and disciplines realtors in British Columbia today, what happened to the Real Estate Council of BC, and what BCFSA does for you.

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Wills & Estates

Who Takes Over When a BC Court Removes an Executor?

Learn who steps in when a British Columbia court removes an executor, what happens to the old grant, and how the Public Guardian and Trustee fits in.

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Business Sale

Why Sellers Prefer a Share Sale in British Columbia: The Tax Reasons

Learn why sellers often prefer a share sale over an asset sale in British Columbia, from the capital gains exemption to recapture, reserves and PST.

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Wills & Estates

Wills Variation Claims Under Section 60 of WESA in BC

A plain-language guide to wills variation claims under section 60 of WESA in British Columbia: who can claim, deadlines, what courts consider and orders.

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Family

Your Legal Rights When You Separate in British Columbia

Learn what BC law says about property, debts, children, support and the family home when you separate, plus the time limits and agreements that matter.

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