Preparing a Will and Estate Planning

What is a will?

A will is a document that states what you want done with your property when you die. Examples of property dealt with by wills include real estate, money, investments, and personal or household belongings that you own. You can change your will at any time. Also, a will has no legal effect until you die.

A will doesn’t deal with certain assets

A will generally doesn’t cover assets that you don’t own exclusively. For example, a joint bank account or a house owned in joint tenancy has a “right of survivorship”, meaning that these assets will automatically become the exclusive property of the joint survivor when you die. Also, a will does not apply to assets like life insurance, RRSPs, RRIFs and TFSAs, where you have already designated a beneficiary.

A will is only one part of an overall estate plan

There are opportunities to transfer assets to beneficiaries outside of a will, without tax and other cost consequences. Doing so is called “estate planning” and is discussed at the end of this script.

In a will, you name a person or company to be the “executor”

The executor is responsible for:

• safeguarding the estate (for example, changing the house insurance if the house is unoccupied or keeping any vehicle insured);
• gathering up your assets;
• paying your debts (including taxes);
• dividing what remains of your estate among the people named in your will to receive a share of your estate, known as the “beneficiaries”.

How should you choose an executor?

Choose an executor you trust and who will likely be alive when you die. He or she may be a trusted family member or friend; in many cases, you might appoint your spouse, or if you are both elderly, an adult child or children. It helps if he or she is also organized, good at keeping records, and a good communicator. Most importantly, the person must be willing to take on the duties of executor.

If you have a second family (called “blended”) with step children, it is important to talk to a lawyer to ensure that the wishes of both you and your spouse are followed. Your will does not have to be the same as your spouse's, but it is important to consider all aspects of your family situation.

If desired, you can appoint more than one executor who can then act together as co-executors. You should also appoint an alternate executor if the first executor isn’t able to act. If you have a complex estate or investments or need someone to take over the operation of a company, you should name a professional executor who may be a lawyer, accountant or other professional. Trust companies also accept executor appointments if the estate is big enough. There are additional costs involved if you appoint a professional or trust company, but in some cases, you might need to do this.

If you have minor children, appoint a guardian in your will

If you’re a guardian of a minor child, the new Family Law Act (which came into effect in March, 2013) allows you to appoint someone else to be the child’s guardian in your will.

It’s especially important that you name a guardian if you’re a single parent. For separated parents, it’s best to reach an agreement on the choice of a guardian if one or both of you die. Where that’s not possible, it’s important to consider the parenting responsibilities you have (through either a court order or separation agreement) and ensure that you include those responsibilities as part of the guardian appointment in your will.

Although your choice of guardian is important, the court doesn’t have to follow your wishes and may appoint a different guardian if this would be in the child’s best interests. And the court will consider the wishes of any child 12 or older. You should therefore check with an older child about their wishes before deciding on the appointment of the guardian in your will.

The guardian’s job is to look after your minor children, and he or she may in turn appoint a replacement guardian. But the guardian generally doesn’t have any rights to look after a minor child’s property – the guardian can only receive and hold a minor child’s property or money if it’s worth less than $10,000. You should therefore appoint a trustee to manage a minor child’s inheritance. The executor can be the same person as the trustee.

What happens if you don’t make a will?

When there’s no will, your net estate is distributed to your next of kin according to rules set out in the new Wills, Estates and Succession Act.

For more information, refer to script 177 on “What Happens When You Die without a Will?”.

It’s important to make a will properly

You should have your will professionally prepared, as a will is a binding legal document. To make an effective will requires a good understanding of property ownership rules and the law about wills. There are rules and formalities that must be followed, no matter how simple the will, otherwise the will may not be valid. Also, the words used must be chosen carefully so the will is clear and unambiguous. If the formalities are ignored or the terms of the will are unclear, there will be extra legal costs taken from your estate to get court orders to fix the problems, which may or may not be entirely possible.

Your will can be changed after you die

If your will doesn’t properly provide for your spouse or children, they can make a claim to have your will varied or changed by the BC Supreme Court. Until March 31, 2014, this claim is made under the Wills Variation Act (also known as WESA). After March 31, 2014, the claim is made under WESA. A “spouse” under both statutes includes both a married spouse and a person with whom you have lived in a marriage-like relationship for two years before your death.

Both a long history of British Columbian case law, along with the provisions of WESA are clear that there is both a legal and moral obligation to provide for a spouse or child in a will. If you’re thinking of disinheriting a spouse or child (even a self-sufficient adult child), or leaving them less in your will than they might reasonably expect, or, in the case of a child, less than their other siblings, be sure to consult with a lawyer about the situation before finalizing your will. The courts may be able to alter your will, giving them more at the expense of your other beneficiaries. If you have a disabled adult child, and do not leave sufficient provision for him or her, the Court may order that this child receive more from the estate.

Your estate may have to pay “probate” filing fees

Probate is the process by which the executor must apply to the BC Supreme Court to confirm that a will is legally valid. The word “probate” means “proof” – the Court will “prove” that the will is valid. Probate filing fees are paid to the Court Registry. These fees are as follows:

• If the estate is worth less than $25,000 – no fee.
• If the estate is worth over $25,000 – basic fee of $208.
• If the estate is worth between $25,000 and $50,000 – basic fee of $208 plus $6 per $1,000 (for a total of $358 for the first $50,000).
• If the estate is worth over $50,000 – $358 plus $14 per $1,000 of estate value over $50,000.

These fees may change at any time. The probate fees are usually just a small part of the total cost of the process. There can be legal fees, fees to transfer assets from one name to another and other costs.

The Probate Registry of the Supreme Court determines the estate value based on documents filed by the executor. Probate fees can often be avoided or reduced by estate planning outside of a will, and you may wish to see a lawyer to explore such planning.

Taxes may also have to be paid

When a person dies, the law assumes that they sold all of their assets on the date immediately before their death. If the assets increased in value over time, a capital gains tax will have to be paid for the same year as the person’s death. There are some exceptions, such as gifts to spouses and principal residences, but if you own assets that will attract capital gains tax on your death, you should speak to a lawyer or an accountant to see how to deal with this tax. For example, a recreational property in your name alone will normally attract capital gains tax.

What are some aspects of estate planning?

With estate planning, you may be able to reduce the amount of probate fees and taxes that your estate would otherwise pay. Consider, for example, the following:

• Joint Assets: The owners of joint assets, such as a joint bank account that two or more people own, or a house owned by two or more people as joint tenants, have a “right of survivorship”. This means that when one person dies, the other joint owners are entitled to own the asset. So if you and another person own a house as joint tenants, the surviving joint owner will get the house when you die. The house is an asset that passes outside your will. No probate fees will have to be paid by your estate regarding the house, and if the house is your principal residence, no tax will be paid by your estate.

However, note that several recent court rulings have seen a jointly-owned asset returned to the estate. If your joint asset is not with your spouse or a minor child but instead with an adult child or other adult, then that joint holder may in fact own the asset in trust for you. This can be avoided by clear documentation showing your intent to give the property to the surviving joint owner at the time he or she becomes a joint owner with you. For example, if you add an adult son to your bank account as a joint holder and you want the account to belong to him when you die, you should sign a deed of gift. Otherwise, it may be presumed that your son holds the bank account in trust for your estate and the money will be paid out according to the terms of your will. It is very common for an older person to have an account in joint ownership with one of their children on the understanding that the account is being held in trust for all the children, when the parent dies.

• RRSPs, RRIFs and TFSAs: A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) all allow you to designate a beneficiary to get the proceeds when you die. If you name a beneficiary and he or she survives you by at least five days, the proceeds pass outside your will to that beneficiary. For example, an RRSP beneficiary will get the money in the RRSP directly from the company holding the RRSP, and not from the estate.

• Life Insurance Policies: Life insurance policies allow you to designate a beneficiary to receive money at your death. Again, this money passes outside your will and does not pass as part of the estate; this means that the life insurance funds are not used to pay off the debts of the estate.

• Trusts: Depending on the size of your estate, you may want to establish a trust, which can protect your estate against a wills variation claim.

• Charitable Gifts: You can reduce the income tax liability arising on the deemed disposition of your assets on your death by making charitable gifts in your will.

You should hire a lawyer to help you

An experienced lawyer will know about the rules that apply to wills and can help with estate planning so as to save money for your beneficiaries, giving you the peace of mind of knowing that your will is properly drafted and valid, and that your estate will be paid out according to your wishes.

How much does a will cost?

The cost depends on how complex your situation is. Most lawyers charge a fee that reflects the time, skill and responsibility involved. Discuss the fees with your lawyer when you call to arrange a meeting.

You can minimize the legal fees by being well prepared

It helps if you have the following information ready before you meet with your lawyer:

• list of everyone in your immediate family with their full names and contact information, their relationship to you and the ages of all your children, including stepchildren.
• The names and addresses of any other people or organizations to whom you want to give gifts.
• A list of all of your assets and their values, including your home, car, investments and any personal items of significant monetary value.
• A description of how you own these assets (for example, whether you own it alone or together with someone else).
• A document that shows whose name is on the title of any real estate you own.
• Details of any insurance policies you own, and, specifically, who the beneficiary of the policy is.
• Details of any pensions, RRSPs, RRIFs and TFSAs, and who the beneficiary of these is.
• Information about the structure of any business you operate (for example, a company or partnership).
• Any separation agreements or court orders requiring you to make support payments or dealing with guardianship of any minor children.
• Your choice for your executor(s) and guardian.

It’s important to update your estate plan

A well-drafted will anticipates different scenarios and plans for these, such as what happens if an adult child or grandchild dies before you. However, you should still consider changing your will whenever your financial or personal circumstances change, or if beneficiaries die or reach the age of majority.

For example, if you made a will when your children were young and named your parents as guardian and executor, you’ll no longer need the guardian clause when your children are adults and you may want your children or a sibling to be executor instead. It’s a good practice to review your will every three to five years to ensure that it still reflects your current wishes.

Make sure to review your will after any change in your marital status

If you married before March 31, 2014, when WESA came into effect, your will prior to marriage was automatically revoked, unless the will says that it was made in contemplation of your marriage. After March 31, 2014, a marriage will not revoke a will. It is now more important than ever to ensure that you make a will so that you made provision for everyone that you want to share in your estate.

If you divorced before March 31, 2014, the portions of your will that appoint your ex-spouse as an executor and make a gift to him or her will not be valid. Any divorce after March 31, 2014 will mean that the appointment or gift won’t be valid if:

• you’ve lived separate and apart for at least two years before your death (and one or both of you intended to live separately and apart permanently).
• before you die, an event occurs that causes an interest in family property to arise (within the meaning of the Family Law Act).
• in the case of a marriage-like relationship, one or both of you end the relationship before you die.

Consider registering a “wills notice”

You can file a wills notice with the Vital Statistics Agency at www.vs.gov.bc.ca/wills. A wills notice sets out who made the will and where it can be found. This is a voluntary registration and has a small filing fee. The Vital Statistics Agency doesn’t take a copy of your will; rather, you fill out a standard form of information, including information as to where your will is being kept.

Where should you keep your will?

You should store your original will with your lawyer or in a safety deposit box at your bank so that you have a permanent, safe and fireproof location. Your original will is what your executor will need to present to the Probate Registry in future, not a copy. It’s recommended that you let your executor know where you keep your will and other important documents, so your executor has what he or she requires when the time comes.

What is LEAVE A LEGACY™?

LEAVE A LEGACY™ is a public awareness program of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. (See www.cagp-acpdp.org). Its objective is to promote, through the media and educational sessions for the public, the importance of preparing a will. It also raises awareness about leaving a gift for charity in the will.

[updated March 2015]

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