Our 4 Core Services

Whether your loved one left a will (this is called "dying testate") or not (this is called "dying intestate"), we can help with the legal process of settling an estate.

We will help you navigate the probate process, including dealing with the banks, conducting the necessary searches, giving notice to the beneficiaries and others entitled to receive notice, completing the right court forms, and applying to the court for an "estate grant" (also called a "grant of probate" when there is a will, and called a "grant of administration" when there isn't a will). We will also give you advice on tasks that typically happen after you get the estate grant, including paying debts and taxes and managing the distribution of assets.

Cost: $4,480 (this is the cost of our help, including GST and PST) + about $450 in standard third party charges that we have to pay on your behalf (like government search charges and the court’s probate application filing fee). Not every estate has the same third-party costs, so this second number will vary slightly from estate to estate. Lastly, there’s the government probate fee (see our Probate Fee Calculator to estimate the probate fee for your estate).

Have you done most of the work yourself but need some specific advice to get the job done? Are you unsure if you've given notice to the right people? Have you had your application for an estate grant rejected by the Court Registry? Are beneficiaries sending you multiple requests for updates and you're not sure what to tell them? We can help you.

Cost: You decide what tasks you want our help with and which ones you'll do on your own. We'll agree on the cost with you up front and you will only be charged for the tasks you asked us to do.

*We'll be honest* If you've done a good job so far, that's great; you can save money with this option. On the other hand, if corrections have to be made, this could be time-consuming. We'll discuss it together and make a plan.

No two estates are the same. There are many factors that can create complications. Some examples include executors or beneficiaries who live outside of Canada, incapable beneficiaries, trusts in the will, and assets located outside of British Columbia.

Cost: We’ll ask you questions to figure out what makes your situation unique and potentially more complicated and time-consuming. You decide what you want our help with, and we'll agree on the cost with you up front.

*Some complications we won't be able to help with* like disputes between family members or beneficiaries, but we can point you in the direction of lawyers who can.

Getting the grant of probate (or grant of administration) is a big hurdle, but is not your only job. One of the major duties of an executor is that you must account for all the money and assets you have handled in this role. As executor, you must always be prepared to give a full accounting of your actions to the beneficiaries or the court. It's important to be thinking of this responsibility right from the first day you start your work as executor. It can be daunting to keep track of all your activity and present the information in an accurate, complete, and concise way. We can help you with this.

Cost: The cost will be based on the kind and number of assets in the estate and, if there's a will, how complicated the instructions in the will are. We'll agree on the cost with you up front.